What makes a great strategy? According to Seth Godin, it starts with asking better questions.
In last episode of Series 7 of the PiXL Leadership Book Club, Rachel Johnson is joined by school leaders Sian Cumming and Luke Moseley to explore This Is Strategy, a refreshingly different leadership book packed with thought-provoking ideas rather than traditional chapters.
Together, they reflect on what strategy really means in schools, from designing elegant systems and creating the conditions for success to resisting the temptation of heroic fixes. They explore how shared language, culture and clear thinking can transform organisations, why hidden decisions "get mouldy", and how leaders can make time for the work of thinking, not just the job of doing.
Expect practical insights into building better systems, leading meaningful change and choosing the right questions before chasing the right answers. Along the way, the conversation unpacks memorable ideas such as "systemic advantage defeats heroic effort", why constraints can be a gift, and how finding the right balance of coaches and cheerleaders can strengthen leadership.
Whether you're leading a classroom, a department or an entire school, this episode offers a powerful reminder that great leadership isn't about having all the answers - it's about creating the conditions where better ones can emerge.
If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club...
Check out the PiXL website: https://www.pixl.org.uk/ for free downloads
Read Rachel's three books:
Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them
Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them
Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead
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PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5.
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