The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast | The #1 Downloaded School Leadership Show Lead Yourself First: The Awakening Every Principal Needs with Joël McLean
Quick take: If you're leading from an empty tank, you're not leading at all. Joël McLean learned the hard way that transformational leadership starts within — and he built a roadmap any school leader can follow.
🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus MakerJoël McLean is a former principal turned certified leadership coach, committed to helping leaders at every level develop skills and confidence to thrive. With 27+ years in education and founder of Inspire Leadership Coaching, he's on a mission to spark transformation from the inside out.
🔨 Breaking Down the Old RulesIn this episode, Joël McLean challenges traditional education paradigms:
🤯 Key Insight #1: Self-Leadership Over More Initiatives- What's broken: More hours, more meetings, and more pressure are seen as the solution to underperformance.
- The shift: Joël argues that success starts with self-leadership and intentional reflection.
- Impact: Leaders who focus inward show up with clarity, energy, and stronger school-wide influence.
- What's broken: Leadership is treated as purely results-driven, often ignoring the personal development of the leader.
- The shift: Joël reframes leadership as a human-centered, values-based journey.
- Impact: Schools thrive when principals build themselves first, then build others.
- What's broken: Rigid leadership paths discourage creative growth and perspective-taking outside education.
- The shift: Joël models how borrowing from business, coaching, and mindfulness unlocks new leadership capacity.
- Impact: Innovative thinking and intentional design create empowered, future-ready campuses.
"If people are depending on me as a leader, then I need to make sure I'm at my best." – Joël McLean
🧗♂️ Your Do School Different ChallengeReady to implement these ideas? Start here:
- Tomorrow: Block 15 minutes for uninterrupted reflection. Ask yourself: "Who do I want to be as a leader this week?"
- This Month: Write your own Leader's Code. Define your values, vision, and what success looks like for you.
- This Semester: Begin building systems to support adult learning and staff development aligned with your leadership code.
🌟 Get the full episode transcript here
👩🏻💻 Follow Joël McLean:
- My website: inspireleadership.ca
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirelifeleadershipcoaching
- Instagram: @inspireleadershipcoaching
📕 Buy Transcending Your Leadership here.
📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They ActIf education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning?
This show isn't about doing school better.
It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible.
🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: https://ruckusmakers.news
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🫸 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind
🎙 Today's RUCKUS cast in Partnership With:- ODP Business Solutions®
Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments.
🔍 Visit **odpbusiness.com/education** and let's Do School Different.
- IXL
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- PLAY PIPER
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