School Leaders and Leadership Teams
I have been working with schools in South Australia, NSW and Victoria for nearly a decade. I love working with individual school leaders and school leadership teams, to enhance their ability to lead effectively through challenge and change.
(maximum size 25 participants)
Unlike large training organisations who deliver off-the-shelf programs, I do not take a “one size fits all” approach. Instead, I will work closely with you and your team to develop a half-day or full-day workshop which is tailored to meet the specific needs of your school.
I will design and prepare a bespoke session for your team, based on the outcomes you want from the day. [read more…]
“Thank you so much for the gentle way you have delivered our Staff Retreat. The staff were engaged, relaxed, reflected on themselves and had the opportunity to interact with others”.
School Principal (Catholic School, SA), whole school full
day Retreat (2020)
(maximum size 15 participants)
Team coaching is always designed to meet the specific needs of your Executive Leadership Team. It’s about maximising the abilities and performance of the team, with a focus on how each team member can develop their contribution to the team’s effectiveness.
It can also be about uncovering attitudes or behaviours within the team that impact on team dynamics, developing a clear purpose and then deciding how the team will work together to achieve that.
Team coaching often involves some individual coaching of the team leader and other team members. [read more...]
“So many valuable aspects… building an alignment and clarity regarding leadership, getting to know all team members and through this process, strategically connecting us all, enabling voices to be heard and responding strategically and supportively.”
Principal (large Public High School, SA), whole day Team Coaching Day (2022)
“There was a lot of valuable outcomes from the team coaching process. I really liked the session where we unpacked the good leadership qualities. This showed that we are all on the same page and that we have common values within the team. The process in which we went about identifying those qualities allowed for everyone to have their say and as a result we created a detailed list of what we can aim to model as a team.”
Executive Leadership Team Member (2022)
(maximum size 25 participants)
Do you want your school leaders to add skills to their toolkit for growing and developing others?
This program aims to help you understand the value of coaching and the difference between coaching conversations and the many other types of conversations leaders need to have.
Participants will develop fundamental coaching skills and build the confidence to set up a coaching conversation for success.
The one day program can be combined with one-to-one mentor coaching and small group coaching, to embed skills [read more…]
“Loved the mixed approach which allowed me to listen, learn and then apply the strategies. Really appreciated the time to practice and being vulnerable within a safe environment.”
“Really valuable information and strategies to build culture … Things that can be applied straight away, which is great.”
“Fantastic! Informative, well-paced, plenty of time for questions, conversation and practice.”
Coaching Conversations Program Participants (2021-23)
(maximum size 8 participants)
The program enables participants to reflect on their leadership capabilities, their natural strengths, and the areas they want to develop.
Two surveys are completed prior to the program’s commencement, to identify ‘top strengths’ and the other ‘best qualities’.
Each session has a clear focus and is highly experiential, with an action-learning approach that enables the learning to be applied to solve real work challenges.
The program includes creation of a Leadership Development Action Plan. [read more…]
Through the Program I learned:
“I feel the sessions brought out the best in me. I have learnt to carefully consider my actions and choices before I speak with other professionals, so that I can support them and communicate my intentions with more clarity.”
““Useful, targeted and practical. The course makes the participant reflect, consider and become more self aware from the get go, creating tangible opportunity to implement their learning in the real world straight away.”
Quotes from SA High School Participants
(maximum size 8 participants)
Group Coaching can take many forms, because it is shaped by the specific needs of the group.
Reflective questions give participants an opportunity to explore their own thinking, intentions, and values – to see new things in themselves and be more authentic in their leadership. Participants have the chance to reflect – to consider what’s most important for their leadership and find new solutions.
In small groups of 6-8, each member is coached individually while taking turns during the coaching session. Even when one person is directly being coached, other group members are asked to reflect on their own leadership and provide input by asking questions or offering advice.
The opportunity to learn from peers and the collective wisdom of the group can make it a powerful experience. [read more…]
“Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you. It has been such a valuable learning experience and has been some of the best professional learning that I have engaged in, and that is mostly due to you!”
“I was hesitant to be part of this to begin with but it was such a useful exercise. Thank you for your expertise and making it an enjoyable and valuable experience.”
“Julie was really great at listening to what we were saying and understanding where we were coming from. She presented in a professional manner and every individual was treated with respect.”
Group Coaching Participants (2019-22)
Leadership Coaching is primarily about being the best leader you can be. There is no set program, as the coaching program is designed to meet your individual needs.
A key outcome of individual coaching is gaining greater self-awareness of personal learning needs so you can make adjustments to what you are doing, and these incremental changes make you more effective.
We will focus on your strengths and explore any shifts you might need to make to enhance your performance or improve your wellbeing (because wellbeing is a prerequisite for performance) and explore positive strategies for managing the challenges you face at work. [read more…]
“Julie was so supportive and responsive. In each session she was able to help me draw out the issues that were bothering me and support me to identify effective strategies to help me move forward. I have found my interactions with Julie invaluable. With Julie’s support I have been able to reflect on how I respond as a leader and identify and develop those areas which can be strengthened. I feel I am now equipped with the reflective questions and resources which will allow me to lead with clear vision, confidence, and significantly reduced anxiety.
Deputy Principal, South Australia (2020)
More Written Testimonials from School Leaders…
“The sessions gave me an opportunity to reflect on where I am at in my leadership journey, who I aspire to be more like and how I can get there. It was great having the time to really deeply reflect on what my strengths are and why I work really well with some people, but only sort of ok with others.”
School Leader, South Australia (2022)
“Julie was so supportive and responsive. In each session she was able to help me draw out the issues that were bothering me and support me to identify effective strategies to help me move forward. I have found my interactions with Julie invaluable. With Julie’s support I have been able to reflect on how I respond as a leader and identify and develop those areas which can be strengthened. I feel I am now equipped with the reflective questions and resources which will allow me to lead with clear vision, confidence, and significantly reduced anxiety.
Deputy Principal, South Australia (2020)
“Julie was able to work with me to create a safe space, allowed me time to reflect and clarify my thinking when needed and asked the ‘right questions’ that made me go into previous issues or concerns and work through these to become stronger, more confident in myself and my own abilities. Julie worked with me throughout what had been a difficult time in my life personally and professionally and the skills that I was able to gain through the sessions, reading and conversations have allowed me to make great gains in my life and take risks with great rewards. I could not be more positive of my experience … The skills that I have gained allowed me to have courage to continue to be passionate as an educator, the confidence to not be scared to make mistakes, the inner strength to not question my every move and the resilience and relentlessness in pursuing my dream job, as a school Principal which I did get!”
School Principal, South Australia (2020)
“I feel that my sessions with Julie have fundamentally changed my world view. I have a clear idea about what I need to improve on my journey through leadership in an educational setting and an idea of how to make those improvements. What I thought were a set of skills people either had or did not have, I have realised can be taught and learned and I’m starting to build the skills I need to learn them.”
Head Teacher, Victoria (2020)
“We often do not get the time to sit and speak to someone who has outside eyes. Having the opportunity to talk issues or hurdles through and have someone coach you, often helped in reaching my own desirable outcome without someone telling me how to do it. Julie at times allowed me to vent but then probed me for solutions, this often allowed me to think more logically and reframe at times how I was going about things.”
Deputy Principal, NSW (2019)
“Julie is an absolutely fabulous coach”.
Deputy Principal, NSW (2019)
“Julie was able to get me to reflect on my leadership performance and improve my leadership style. I always came away from the session motivated and committed to change my practice.”
Deputy Principal, South Australian High School (2019)
“Julie was fabulous. She was my rock through a really tough patch and supported me to come out the other side. She was able to help me understand my own thinking, and support me to reflect on strategies to bring out the best in myself and other people.”
Assistant Principal, South Australian High School (2019)
