People-Based Leadership
It’s all about working with, not for, in schools, work and life.
Hi there School of Thought Readers,
I’m writing this post as a bit of a reflection, but also as an invitation.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the kind of leadership that helps people thrive, and the kind that quietly (or not so quietly?) stalls growth.
I’ve experienced both. Maybe you have, too.
The environments where I’ve felt most alive professionally weren’t powered by hierarchy or performance metrics. They were fueled by trust, curiosity, and real relationships, what I now recognize as People-Based Learning in action. They were built by people who believed in connection and power with not over. And when those elements were missing, the difference was more than noticeable. It was personal.
This doesn’t just apply to workplaces. Schools feel this, too. When learning is reduced to academic performance alone and human connection is sidelined, students and educators both lose something essential. But when schools are intentionally designed to integrate thinking, feeling, creating, and relating, they become places of growth for everyone; places where the full spectrum of learning is possible.
So in this post, I’m sharing:
Why the shift from working for to working with is more important than ever
A personal story about what happens when that shift doesn’t happen
Research behind People-Based Learning leadership and why it’s needed
Five practical moves to bring this way of leading to life, wherever you work or teach or lead
If you’ve ever wondered why some work environments make you come alive and others seem to box you in, I hope this gives you some language, some resonance, and a roadmap for more human-centered leadership.
As always, thanks for being here,
