You’re Not Too Emotional. You’re Under-Informed.What High-Performing Leaders Know About Emotions A few years ago, I interviewed a school principal named Elena. She had been promoted quickly—recognized for her sharp thinking and calm under pressure. But during one particularly volatile year, things shifted. She found herself snapping at colleagues. Avoiding difficult conversations. Over-apologizing in staff…
Emotional reactivity is one of the greatest saboteurs of leadership. It can erupt like a brushfire—sudden, hot, and damaging. And for those of us who lead teams, it can undermine trust, stifle collaboration, and leave us emotionally drained. But we don’t have to lead this way—even in the heat of emotional intensity. That’s where Marshall…
We create space for real growth when we meet our tender needs with warm curiosity instead of judgment.
By shifting from “tragic strategies” to life-serving strategies, we meet our needs and foster connection, trust, and well-being in ourselves and others.
One of the biggest misconceptions in school leadership is that taking care of yourself means you’re not doing enough for others.