The Three Plates of School Leadership: What Matters Most When Everything Feels Urgent with Dr. Pete Stebbins | Season 3: Episode 15

 Leading a school is one of the most fulfilling jobs you can have — but it can also feel like one of the hardest. Every day, school leaders are pulled between the demands of strategy, staff, students, and their own wellbeing. It often feels like spinning plates, where the slightest wobble in one area impacts everything else. If you’ve ever felt like you’re giving your all yet still wondering how to keep up, you’re not alone.

That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome back Dr. Pete Stebbins to the podcast. Pete is a workplace psychologist, leadership coach, and co-author of the soon-to-be-released book Lead: 12 Extraordinary, Actionable Insights for Every School Leader. He has spent years walking alongside school leaders, distilling the practices that help them move from surviving to truly thriving in their roles.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why traditional leadership models don’t always fit a school setting, and what extraordinary leaders do instead. 
• The three plates of leadership (strategic responsibilities, supportive responsibilities, and self-leadership) and how to balance them.
• How changing demands and workforce pressures are reshaping school leadership.
• The “seasons of leadership” and how to adapt your focus over time.
• Practical ways to strengthen strategy with systems, visibility, and tracking.
• Supportive leadership as more than “warm fuzzies”, tackling workload and capacity head-on.
• Self-leadership essentials: managing energy, belonging and resilience.
• Using vulnerability narratives to navigate tough conversations with care and accountability.
• Pete’s simple practice of focusing on three daily priorities for clarity and impact.

About Pete:

Dr. Pete Stebbins, PhD, is a Workplace Psychologist and executive coach, focusing on school leadership development and school improvement. He is the author of the best-selling books: ‘Leading Flourishing Schools’ and ‘iTeams: Why High Performance Teams Fit In AND Stand Out!’. Pete has many years of research and professional practice behind him and is the director of the High Performance Schools Program. His work in this space has reached 16 Countries, impacting more than 600 Schools, and over 5,500 School Leaders and their staff. Pete’s professional passions are developing high-performance teams and building high-capacity school culture.

Links and Resources:

Explore the Well-Led Schools Partnership Program

Check out Dr. Pete Stebbin’s latest book: Lead: 12 Extraordinary Actionable Insights for Every School Leader

Check out his other books here

High Performance Resources: https://www.hptschools.com/tools 

Relevant articles and podcast episodes:

• The Secret Recipe for Motivating Your Staff to Implement Change in The Workplace
• How to Structure and Support School Teams for High Performance with Dr. Pete Stebbins
• The Lippit Knoster Model for Managing Complex Change

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Pete via:

His websites: www.hptschools.com/ and www.drpetestebbins.com/ 

Email: drpetestebbins@gmail.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-pete-stebbins-4a29177/ 

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ 

Email: hello@adriennehornby.com.au