PiXL Leadership Bookclub

Are you tired of feeling burnt out and unfulfilled at work? Join us as we explore Bruce Daisley's inspiring book 'The Joy of Work' and discover how to find happiness and satisfaction in your career. As one of the UK's most influential voices on ‘fixing work’, Bruce Daisley's insights and advice are sure to inspire you to find joy and fulfillment in your own work. Whether you're a teacher, a school leader, or in any other profession, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to rekindle their passion for their career.

In this episode, we are delighted to be joined by two exceptional school leaders, Richard Uffendell (Headteacher at Ashton Park School), and Andrew Wilkinson (Assistant Headteacher at Al Rabeeh School). Together, with PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson, they share their experiences of creating a positive and enjoyable work environment for themselves and their colleagues. 

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

From Kiss-up/Kick-downers, to Credit-Stealers, Bulldozers, Free-riders, Micromanagers, Neglectful bosses, and Gas-lighters, there are several types of “jerks” we may encounter in our lives, including within the schooling environment. We all have the capacity to be a jerk at work and to cause others problems, but how we recognise that in ourselves and those around us can really impact the flow of a team. Author Tessa West, a leading expert on interpersonal communication, sheds light on how to handle difficult colleagues with grace and professionalism. In this episode, we will explore the strategies outlined in her book and learn from our guest speakers' real-life examples

Tune in to our latest episode of the Leadership Bookclub podcast, where we discuss Tessa West's ground-breaking book, 'Jerks at Work.' Our esteemed guest speakers, Lynsey White (Assistant Headteacher at a school in Cornwall), and Shakiara Valu, (Head of Performing Arts and Drama at Collingwood College), will join Rachel Johnson, PiXL CEO, to share their experiences and insights on dealing with challenging personalities within different educational and workplace settings. Don't miss out on this exciting, informative, and truly vital conversation.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

The conversations we have with ourselves can have a profound impact on our mental health, ability to lead, and overall well-being. Award-winning psychologist Ethan Kross takes a deep dive into the power of our inner voice in 'Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It'.

Experienced and insightful school leaders Debbie Christiansen (Headteacher, Peel Brow School) and Rebecca Simister, (Assistant Headteacher, Goldington Green Academy) join Rachel Johnson to discuss their biggest takeaways and how they have harnessed their “chatter” to overcome challenges. With real-life applications, in and out of the educational setting, tune in to this episode of the Leadership Bookclub podcast to find out how they have turned their inner critic into their inner coach.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

Have you ever wondered why some moments in life stick with you forever, while others fade into the background? In "The Power of Moments", authors and brothers Chip and Dan Heath explore the four elements that make up our most memorable positive experiences: elevation, insight, pride, and connection.

To kick off the fourth series, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson is joined by Alex Pape (Assistant Headteacher at Vyners School) and Adam Lewis (Deputy Headteacher at Sewell Park Academy) as they discuss how, as leaders, they try to create powerful and impactful moments in their educational environments by utilising those four essential elements.

Join us on this illuminating and engaging Leadership Bookclub episode as we delve into the fascinating mysteries of experience. We also learn how these educators and leaders have harnessed the power to become the authors of their defining moments, and how they share that with those they lead every day, whether it’s their staff, students, or themselves.

Whether it’s within schools, our personal lives, or any other professional endeavour, many of us find ourselves falling into patterns of wanting to be liked and pleasing others. When we forgo our own needs for the needs and requests of others, this becomes a pressing issue, especially when we are in positions where we need to lead. In this final episode of the third series of the Leadership Book Club, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson is joined by experienced school leaders Mags Gee and Jay Davenport as they unpick each of their own valuable takeaways from Psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell’s life changingly insightful book, ‘Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live’. These leaders explore how they identify their own people-pleasing tendencies, and how, using the practical advice uncovered within the pages of this book, they can ensure they are pleasing themselves, without compromising the best interests of each situation they are leading. Emma Reed Turrell has worn a multitude of hats throughout her life, from reading English at Cambridge University, to working in sales and marketing roles, but it is her passion of psychotherapy where she holds immense impact. In her debut book ‘Please Yourself’ she outlines how to care about others in the right way, and ultimately, help you better yourself, too. 

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

Rachel Johnson, Sonia Thompson and Tracey Swinburne discuss Accomplishment by Sir Michael Barber.  Listen to these school leaders explore their various fears and how they have countered those fears. They discuss the practical things you can do to get yourself unstuck and move forward, and suggest ways to effectively communicate your school's vision and values. Sir Michael Barber is a global leader in system delivery and change, former policy director under Prime Minister Tony Blair, and a renowned educationist. In Accomplishment, he distils complex processes to manageable steps, encouraging us to “Speak plainly, speak clearly and listen with care” with the promise that if you can do that, you can accomplish anything.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

If we have the humility and curiosity to reconsider our beliefs, we can always reinvent ourselves. That’s what Adam Grant argues in his book ‘Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.' Rachel Johnson (PiXL, CEO), Shayne Elsworth (Vice Principal, Bede Academy) and Ruth Georgiades (Deputy Head, Tring School) discuss the states you operate in when you don’t stay curious, where the sweet spot is and how to get there. They talk about why it’s important to be open, how to go about being more curious yourself and how they have helped others to be. They explore the three negative modes you might fall into when you aren’t ‘Thinking Again’ and how to avoid them. How are you encouraging others to be open and curious in your school?

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

This episode, the book up for discussion is 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan Cain. Senior leaders Rachel Ball of Co-op Academy Walkden and Carl Smith of Casterton College join PiXL's CEO, Rachel Johnson, to share their thoughts on how we can best serve the introverts, as well as the extroverts, in our schools – both staff and students. It is predicted that almost 50% of us have dominant introverted traits, and yet so much of our current work/school environment is built around extroverted ideals. The discussion flows around classroom setup, reframing 'quiet' as a negative trait, recruitment biases towards extroverted behaviours and utilising technology to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn and be heard.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

In this episode, Rachel Johnson speaks with senior leaders Taz Johal (Assistant Headteacher, Brookvale Groby) and Maria Williams (Headteacher, Brigshaw High School) about Reed Hastings' (Netflix, CEO) and Erin Meyer's book 'No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention'. This leadership book has some fascinating insights from business and sparks much discussion around ideas which could translate well into the education world, as well as some which might would not. The conversation covers three key areas: building talent density, increasing candour, and reducing 'controls', with lots of discussion around vision alignment, feedback, and continually developing staff.

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.

In this episode, Rachel is joined by school leaders, Dan Cowling (Headteacher, Oak Wood School, Hillingdon) and Sam Butterfield (Head of Pedagogy in Melbourne) to discuss 'The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups' by Daniel Coyle. The trio talk about the insights they've gleaned regarding improving school cultures, mixed with their own experiences, after reading the book. How we can we create environments in which responsibility is non-hierarchical, leadership is humble, vulnerability is praised, and all members feel psychologically safe and valued?

PiXL is a partnership organisation of thousands of schools, colleges and alternative education providers spanning KS1-5. Find out more about how you could gain value from a PiXL subscription: https://www.pixl.org.uk/membership

PiXL Leadership Bookclub is a We Are In Beta production.

Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically.