I used to send emails late at night and think I was being efficient. I was clearing the inbox, getting ahead of tomorrow and making sure things were dealt with. I never thought I was asking anyone else to work the same hours. Looking back, I am less certain about the message I was sending. … … Continue reading →

As my time at Boston College comes to an end, I have found myself thinking less about the big moments and more about the small ones. I came to Boston as a research scholar with a clear academic purpose. I wanted time to work on my PhD research into the flourishing of Catholic school principals, … … Continue reading →

Each year, when Matariki rises, I find myself resisting the temptation to look immediately towards what comes next. This is my second annual Matariki blog.  There will always be another project to begin, another goal to pursue, and another challenge to accept. Matariki gently asks us something different of us. Before we look ahead, it … … Continue reading →

(Part of the Boston College Blog series) Schools are crowded places. Corridors fill with noise, staffrooms hum with conversation, and leaders move constantly between meetings, classrooms, parents and staff. Yet crowded places can still be lonely places. Loneliness is not simply being alone. It is the sense that the connection we long for is not … … Continue reading →

Survival mode is not a flaw, it’s part of being human.  It’s something like a protective switch that turns on when life feels threatening. When that happens, our system naturally focuses on getting through. We narrow our attention. We conserve energy. We do what we need to do to stay afloat. This response is wise … … Continue reading →

Take care of yourself so you can lead others It’s been a long week. You move from one meeting to the next. A colleague shares a deeply personal struggle. Your inbox lights up. Someone knocks and says “just a quick question” even though it will probably take at least 20 minutes. You end the week … … Continue reading →

Burnout rarely comes from doing too much; it comes from doing what no longer feels alive. When the purpose that once gave our work depth flattens into tasks and metrics, something essential is lost. When impact goes unnoticed.When effort feels invisible.When connection is replaced by compliance. When meaning fades, energy leaks.And when energy leaks, flourishing … … Continue reading →

Leading with Kindness Leadership isn’t just a set of strategies; it’s a return to the basics that make us human. We all know the power of simple, childhood truths: be kind, share, tell the truth, help when you can. Somewhere along the way, many workplaces start to treat these as soft ideas. They sound nice … … Continue reading →

When Life Throws You a Curveball…… Life throws curveballs. We all know that. They come in all shapes and sizes — illness, job stress, family change, loneliness, or just the slow build-up of everyday demands that finally tip you over. When I look back, the things that helped me most weren’t dramatic. They weren’t found … … Continue reading →