Episode 004: Know Yourself. Lead Better.

What changes when we stop trying to fix people and start looking at our own influence?

In this episode, Jane Newman is joined by Brett Shackleton, an experienced school leader and executive coach who spent 40 years working in education, including 34 years as a school principal.

Jane and Brett explore what happens when leaders turn their attention inward and become more aware of who they are, what matters to them and how they show up for the people they lead.

They talk about the deeply ingrained ways we can try to influence others, the impact this can have on stress and engagement, and why helping people think for themselves can be more powerful than telling them what to do.

The conversation also explores strengths, psychological safety, the role of a leader, and Brett's belief that nobody needs fixing. Instead, leaders can help people become better at what they already do well.

While the conversation is grounded in education and leadership, the ideas extend well beyond schools. They invite all of us to consider how we influence others, how much we try to control, and what might change if we focused more on understanding ourselves first.