Reflections on Leading with Purpose: Tools to Support Joy, Focus and Change in Schools
As a school leader, I often find myself reflecting on how we can best support not only our students' growth but also the wellbeing, clarity, and sense of agency among our educators who lead that learning. In fast change and increasing complexity, two questions always come to mind: How can we help our staff and leaders feel more energised and fulfilled in their daily work? And how can we navigate these changes with confidence, clarity, and a reliance on evidence?
Recently, I’ve come across two books that have really resonated with me as I think through these questions. The first is Productivity Joy: Feel Energized and Be Effective in 5 Minutes a Day by Simi Rayat. It offers a refreshingly straightforward yet powerful approach to finding focus and joy amidst the busyness of life. Central to her method is the 5Q Formula, a set of reflective prompts I’ve started using with my teams . Questions like “What is your emotional temperature?”, “What are you feeling today?”, “What three things do you want to accomplish today?”, and “How will you show up today?” might seem small—but they pack a surprisingly big punch. In roles where urgent matters often overshadow what’s truly important, these five-minute daily reflections help ground our thinking. They promote self-awareness, intentionality, and connection—reminding us that productivity and wellbeing are deeply linked, not opposed. I see real potential in sharing these prompts more broadly with staff and students, whether as part of meetings, coaching conversations, or wellbeing initiatives. They give us a moment to pause, recalibrate, and lead more consciously.
The second book, Education Futures for School Leadership: Evidence-Knowledgeable Strategies for Managing Change by J-C Couture and Stephen Murgatroyd, offers a complementary perspective—focused on how we, as leaders, can guide schools through today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. The authors challenge traditional change management models and encourage us to adopt futures thinking, collaborative inquiry, and coaching approaches.
What really stood out to me was their emphasis on reimagining what education could look like—using evidence-based strategies and practical thinking tools to question assumptions and explore new possibilities. This aligns closely with the work we’re doing with professional learning teams and staff action research. The authors stress that lasting change comes from building trust, engaging in dialogue, and shared leadership—rather than top-down mandates.
Importantly, the book emphasises the power of a coaching mindset in leadership. As someone dedicated to developing leadership in others, I believe that coaching, working with others on their goals and solutions has the greatest impact. When we ask meaningful questions and create space for deep thinking, we promote innovation, ownership, and professional growth. All in all, these two books reinforce my belief that the most effective leadership practices are often the most human ones: reflection, empathy, curiosity, and purpose.
Moving into Term 2, I plan to integrate these tools into my own practice more consistently and find ways to share these with others. Because leading a school isn’t just about strategy; it’s about the small, daily habits that nurture a culture of joy, focus, and continuous transformation.
References:
Rayat, S. (2023). Productivity Joy: Feel Energised and Be Effective in 5 Minutes a Day. John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd (US).
Couture, J.-C. & Murgatroyd, S. (2025). Education Futures for School Leadership: Evidence-Informed Strategies for Managing Change. Abingdon: Routledge
Kara Baxter
ACEL Victoria Branch Executive Member