What if the best self-care strategy for school leaders isn't another wellness activity, but learning how to lead from a more regulated place?
In this episode of The School Leadership Show, I sit down with Erica Ebert to move beyond the "yoga your way out of it" clichés and talk about what real self-care and regulated leadership look like in schools. Drawing on her 28 years of K-12 experience, Erica shares how mindfulness, self-awareness, and compassion can help leaders better understand themselves, their teams, and the cultures they create.
We also discuss why "regulated leaders regulate rooms," and why predictable, psychologically safe environments may be the most powerful form of care leaders can provide.
Consider this Erica's official audition as a future guest host. I'm excited to bring her into more conversations as we continue exploring what it means to do the work before the work.
Visit Erica's website: ericaebert.com
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at Dr.mike.doughty@gmail.com.
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Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:14 Erica's Path to Mindfulness
02:33 Mindfulness Basics for Leaders
05:45 Awareness and Compassion Wings
07:33 Feelings as Data
10:59 Why People Resist the Work
14:23 Safety Isn't Declared
16:29 Leading Systemwide Change
23:38 Self Care vs Strong Systems
26:38 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up
