In busy terms, there’s often an unspoken belief that ease equals complacency. That if things feel lighter, you must not be pushing hard enough but lightness is not laziness. Lightness is clarity. It’s being deliberate about what truly matters and letting go of what doesn’t.
Contrary to popular opinion, confidence is not a trait that you’re either lucky enough to be born with or you’re not. Everyone can learn to become confident and develop their confidence, it takes practice. I’m not talking about ‘fake it until you make it’, what I am talking about is developing real, unwavering confidence in yourself and your abilities.
January isn’t quite the fresh start that September is for school leaders; it can feel more like a re-entry. The pace begins to build again quickly, diaries refill and the long stretch to the next break (and beyond) can suddenly feel very real. Many school leaders find themselves pulled straight back into the detail before they’ve had a chance to properly lift their heads.