https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/Essays and ideas by Ewan McIntosh. Only publication-approved writing appears in this feed.en-gbhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-more-choice-makes-you-less-attractive/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-more-choice-makes-you-less-attractive/Too many choices overwhelm parents; a school's brand strategy must clarify its specific purpose, making it easy for families to identify its value.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/six-weeks-is-a-long-time-thats-the-point/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/six-weeks-is-a-long-time-thats-the-point/Effective leadership requires the traveller's mindset: becoming a curious observer in one's own organisation to ensure one keeps changing one's mind.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-outsource-all-the-hard-work/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-outsource-all-the-hard-work/Writing is thinking; by outsourcing the process to AI, professionals risk losing their taste, discernment, and the capacity to lead with clarity.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-want-middle-leaders-to-take-ownership-stop-giving-them-things-to-own/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-want-middle-leaders-to-take-ownership-stop-giving-them-things-to-own/True ownership requires solving meaningful questions rather than delivering tasks; leaders should provide clear destinations while allowing tactical freedom.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-isnt-the-small-stuff-its-small-stuff-without-a-horizon/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-isnt-the-small-stuff-its-small-stuff-without-a-horizon/The small issues of daily life are manageable, but they become overwhelming and distracting if they lack a clear, overarching strategic horizon.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-do-you-create-a-100-year-organisation/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-do-you-create-a-100-year-organisation/Organisational durability requires products that evolve with time while remaining anchored to values that are strong enough to traverse generations.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-dont-more-boards-visit-school-like-this/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-dont-more-boards-visit-school-like-this/Board immersion days allow governors to move beyond pruned reports and experience the lived, human reality of a school's daily operational life.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/listen-at-scale-lead-from-the-signal/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/listen-at-scale-lead-from-the-signal/Data synthesis is not strategy; after using AI to scale listening, leaders must use human judgement to identify signals that only they can act upon.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-roi-of-a-tablecloth/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-roi-of-a-tablecloth/Small gestures of dignity are not soft extras; they are vital infrastructure that reduces the compounding costs of an unseen and disregarded workforce.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-world-cup-scotland-and-soft-power/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-world-cup-scotland-and-soft-power/Soft power is built on attraction rather than force, relying on the amplification of community strengths through light and democratic organisation.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-trust-your-vision-trust-your-habits/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-trust-your-vision-trust-your-habits/Habits are a more honest indicator of strategy than any written document; ensure your daily routines actually match your stated ambitions.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/lessons-from-kangaroo-ragu-hospitality-is-a-super-teacher/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/lessons-from-kangaroo-ragu-hospitality-is-a-super-teacher/Service is technical, but hospitality is a deeply human feeling of being on someone's side, which builds the trust essential for a school's brand.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-waste-tired-you/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-waste-tired-you/Fatigue is not always a sign to stop; it can be a productive state for generating the raw, imperfect material needed for future brilliant work.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-you-letting-disappear-in-plain-sight/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-you-letting-disappear-in-plain-sight/Leadership involves cleaning away the soot of daily operation to reveal and protect the beautiful, enduring elements of a community's heritage.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-speech-that-could-have-been-given-anywhere/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-speech-that-could-have-been-given-anywhere/End-of-year speeches become memorable only when they prove why specific successes were uniquely possible because of the community's own character.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-best-bit-of-fish-pie-isnt-the-fish-pie/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-best-bit-of-fish-pie-isnt-the-fish-pie/Valuable innovations often emerge as unintended consequences of core work; leaders should nurture a 'store cupboard' of curiosity to capture them.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stop-repeating-yourself-start-building-signal/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stop-repeating-yourself-start-building-signal/Avoid the trap of robotic repetition; focus on one clear signal and wrap it in distinct, purposeful stories to build a consistent culture.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/success-is-easy-to-waste/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/success-is-easy-to-waste/Reflection is a critical sense-making practice that allows leaders to pause, extract lessons from success, and decide what truly warrants repetition.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-big-picture-can-wait/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-big-picture-can-wait/Detailed, small-scale work is not a distraction from strategy; it is the essential process through which a coherent big picture eventually emerges.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-power-of-taking-things-away/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-power-of-taking-things-away/Strategic creativity is an act of subtraction, stripping away non-essential priorities so that the core mission has the space to gain momentum.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-listening-to-the-people-closest-to-the-problem/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-listening-to-the-people-closest-to-the-problem/True listening is a deliberate discipline, not a courtesy; leaders must seek out the candid insights of those closest to the daily problems.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-tiny-routines-that-stop-big-failures/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-tiny-routines-that-stop-big-failures/Significant organisational failure is best prevented not by complex systems, but by the disciplined repetition of small, observable human routines.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/its-time-to-test-your-vision/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/its-time-to-test-your-vision/A robust vision statement should force difficult trade-offs; if the reverse of your vision seems unthinkable, your statement is likely too generic.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-making-the-most-of-your-soft-power/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-making-the-most-of-your-soft-power/A school's soft power is the measurable influence generated when daily actions consistently align with genuine, clearly stated community values.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/being-average-is-incredibly-dangerous/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/being-average-is-incredibly-dangerous/To avoid the blandness of the AI-driven average, schools must boldly choose a distinct vision and commit to meaningful, emotional storytelling.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-culture-isnt-what-you-say-it-is/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-culture-isnt-what-you-say-it-is/School culture is defined by operational rituals, not glossy mission statements; consistent actions serve as the true proof of stated values.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-work-that-makes-everything-else-feel-easy/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-work-that-makes-everything-else-feel-easy/Exceptional organisations succeed by choosing a few invisible, precise rules that build trust and provide a solid foundation for all other activities.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-most-important-thing-you-cant-yet-see/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-most-important-thing-you-cant-yet-see/Like a lighthouse on an imperceptible reef, effective leadership provides a steady reference point that helps communities navigate their own future.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-you-tolerating-right-now/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-you-tolerating-right-now/Leaders must distinguish between harmful stagnation and constructive friction, ensuring they do not inadvertently wash away a culture's valuable history.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-smallest-leadership-move-with-the-biggest-ripple-effect/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-smallest-leadership-move-with-the-biggest-ripple-effect/In times of complexity and negativity, a deliberate choice of relentless positivity and a simple smile can restore clarity and effective team action.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/swimming-on-the-living-room-floor-and-other-lessons-we-might-avoid/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/swimming-on-the-living-room-floor-and-other-lessons-we-might-avoid/Banning social media for young people is like swimming on dry land; true resilience is built through engagement, not avoidance of real-world contexts.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/boring-bad-brave-when-too-many-voices-make-your-strategy-mean-nothing/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/boring-bad-brave-when-too-many-voices-make-your-strategy-mean-nothing/Meaningless mission statements often result from designing by consensus; courage lies in using strategy to steer intentionally in one specific direction.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stop-assuming-someone-else-has-it-covered/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stop-assuming-someone-else-has-it-covered/Effective leadership requires taking absolute responsibility for every detail that influences outcomes, instead of relying on others to manage them.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-you-reach-for-the-stars-you-may-not-quite-get-one-but-you-wont-come-up-with-a-handful-of-mud-either/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-you-reach-for-the-stars-you-may-not-quite-get-one-but-you-wont-come-up-with-a-handful-of-mud-either/True ambition in schools demands a communal, iterative effort that prioritises meaningful progress over the safe pursuit of unattainable perfection.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/some-ideas-dont-arrive-with-a-fanfare/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/some-ideas-dont-arrive-with-a-fanfare/The best ideas are often slow hunches that require leaders to create space for reflection so that shared clarity can surface organically.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/three-weeks-three-cities-a-lesson-on-speed/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/three-weeks-three-cities-a-lesson-on-speed/Pace is a personal perception; schools should plan for rhythm and reflection rather than equating rapid movement with actual progress.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-beauty-of-a-mistake-now-legendary/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-beauty-of-a-mistake-now-legendary/Instead of reacting to failures with panic, leaders should pause to notice the new possibilities and stories that emerge from unexpected moments.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/this-one-thing-is-ruining-your-communication-and-its-not-ai/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/this-one-thing-is-ruining-your-communication-and-its-not-ai/Educational jargon creates distance and obscures meaning; schools should prioritise clarity to foster trust and genuine community engagement.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-five-day-rule-to-lighten-your-load/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-five-day-rule-to-lighten-your-load/Deferral is a decision; using a five-day rule to either execute or delete commitments helps leaders stop pretending that the future will add capacity.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-builders-may-have-decided-our-pedagogy/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-builders-may-have-decided-our-pedagogy/Default architectural plans often institutionalise outdated teaching; deep consultation before design ensures spaces support actual student needs.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/101-days-left/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/101-days-left/Late September offers a superior opportunity to reset focus through small, repeatable habits compared to the artificial pressure of January.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-classroom-is-speaking-but-what-is-it-saying/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-classroom-is-speaking-but-what-is-it-saying/Classroom layouts communicate powerful messages; teachers can experiment with small, intentional changes to align their space with their pedagogy.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-jazz-legend-thelonius-monk-can-teach-us-about-improvisation/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-jazz-legend-thelonius-monk-can-teach-us-about-improvisation/Improvisation in leadership is about being well-prepared enough to listen to the room and find the right path in service of others.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-hidden-psychology-of-people-place-and-pedagogy/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-hidden-psychology-of-people-place-and-pedagogy/Successful transformation requires designing for human nature, using rules to create new habits and relying on trust to enable change.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/through-the-dip-how-strategy-survives-contact-with-reality/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/through-the-dip-how-strategy-survives-contact-with-reality/The dip of frustration in any project is where the real work happens; perseverance and purpose allow strategy to survive reality.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/fred-smiths-vision-myth-debunked-for-schools/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/fred-smiths-vision-myth-debunked-for-schools/Educational vision requires a thoughtful interplay between personal clarity and collaborative community insight, avoiding purely isolated decisions.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whose-voice-is-really-speaking-at-the-start-of-your-school-year/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whose-voice-is-really-speaking-at-the-start-of-your-school-year/School leaders should avoid generic AI-generated metaphors in their speeches and instead define their own unique voice to deepen genuine meaning.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-if-your-best-decisions-begin-with-doing-nothing-at-all/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-if-your-best-decisions-begin-with-doing-nothing-at-all/Clarity for difficult decisions is often found in the gaps of silence and rest, not in the frenzy of an always-on work culture.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/there-is-a-background-noise-that-boosts-thinking-the-other-kind-kills-it/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/there-is-a-background-noise-that-boosts-thinking-the-other-kind-kills-it/Optimal creative thinking requires specific background environments, while fragmented, inconsistent noise disrupts focus and mental clarity.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-fishing-where-everyone-else-is-fishing/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-fishing-where-everyone-else-is-fishing/Real competitive advantage comes from making bold, early moves based on experience rather than staying in the pack following standard formulas.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-boiling-frog-doesnt-leap/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-boiling-frog-doesnt-leap/To avoid being overwhelmed by incremental change, schools must adopt resilient strategies that proactively address long-term challenges.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-dont-need-more-data-you-need-this/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-dont-need-more-data-you-need-this/Data only informs rational decisions if it is high quality; leaders must prioritise the time to listen and notice over superficial metrics.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-with-feedback-you-might-be-starting-in-the-wrong-place/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-with-feedback-you-might-be-starting-in-the-wrong-place/Feedback often fails because it lacks a shared vision; schools must define what excellence looks like before attempting to measure performance.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/i-interrupted-myself-do-you-do-the-same/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/i-interrupted-myself-do-you-do-the-same/True focus is about knowing the right thing to prioritise at the right time, rather than attempting to do one thing at the expense of all else.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-with-words/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-problem-with-words/Communication should be treated as a strategic asset, built on deep work and clear narrative rather than generic, outsourced language.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/do-you-know-how-to-outsell-expectations/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/do-you-know-how-to-outsell-expectations/Schools must stop generalising to appeal to everyone and instead embrace specificity to energise their community and articulate true difference.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-same-old-story-by-everyone/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-same-old-story-by-everyone/Leaders must avoid generic, AI-generated messaging and instead unearth specific stories that define their school's unique secret sauce.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-dont-need-a-plan-you-need-a-pause/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-dont-need-a-plan-you-need-a-pause/Breathless school teams often need a pause to surface core strengths and decide what to ignore, rather than starting new, distracting initiatives.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-schools-ride-dead-horses-and-how-to-stop/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-schools-ride-dead-horses-and-how-to-stop/Institutional focus is regained by identifying and stopping habitual projects that lack purpose, allowing space for genuine innovation.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/i-love-deadlines-i-like-the-whooshing-sound-they-make-as-they-fly-by/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/i-love-deadlines-i-like-the-whooshing-sound-they-make-as-they-fly-by/Deadlines often create ripples of unfinished work when underlying priorities are blurred; moving past the fog requires clarity and purpose.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-photo-that-reminds-me-of-everything-that-matters-in-school/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-photo-that-reminds-me-of-everything-that-matters-in-school/Brand strategy is about designing a culture that fosters everyday, pivotal human moments rather than just reporting on performative events.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-stop-being-a-copycat-school-do-reverse-benchmarking/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-stop-being-a-copycat-school-do-reverse-benchmarking/Schools should reject aimless benchmarking and instead define their unique essence to create a distinctive category and market position.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/want-better-learning-design-for-this-first/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/want-better-learning-design-for-this-first/Beyond content and competences, schools must prioritise designing spaces that foster deep human connection and the ability to relate to others.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/design-isnt-decoration-its-decision-making/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/design-isnt-decoration-its-decision-making/Successful school architecture requires bridging the gap between institutional ambition and design through prototyping and meaningful language.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/boeing-says-its-core-values-are-safety-quality-integrity-and-sustainability-youd-hope-so/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/boeing-says-its-core-values-are-safety-quality-integrity-and-sustainability-youd-hope-so/Genuine strategy requires making hard choices and sacrifices rather than relying on generic truisms that fail during real decision-making moments.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/comfort-is-a-terrible-compass/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/comfort-is-a-terrible-compass/When facing institutional crises, schools must ignore the comfort of tradition and return to their core purpose to guide effective decision-making.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/collaboration-or-cooking-which-matters-more/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/collaboration-or-cooking-which-matters-more/Schools should reconsider their definition of basic education to prioritise practical life skills that foster student confidence and independence.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-to-happiness-and-wellbeing/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-to-happiness-and-wellbeing/True happiness is found at the intersection of meaningful work, personal growth, and helping others, rather than in policies or shallow perks.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/complexity-kills-autonomy/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/complexity-kills-autonomy/Complexity breeds helplessness; stripping away unnecessary policies and clarifying responsibilities empowers teams to do their best work.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-of-leading-from-a-high-school-band/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-secret-of-leading-from-a-high-school-band/Leadership is not dictation; it is creating conditions where others can contribute their unique talents to build something extraordinary together.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/so-they-dont-like-your-idea-just-bring-them-closer/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/so-they-dont-like-your-idea-just-bring-them-closer/To overcome apathy, communicate ideas effectively and maintain curiosity, knowing that busy people often miss potential innovations.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/26-years-ago-i-nearly-became-a-spy/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/26-years-ago-i-nearly-became-a-spy/Create a vision for today, not generations away; focus on achievable goals and distinct choices that make an immediate impact.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/10-essential-leadership-steps-to-get-out-of-a-crisis/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/10-essential-leadership-steps-to-get-out-of-a-crisis/Leaders must employ a structured approach to crisis management, focusing on clear strategy, expert use, empathy, and providing honest hope.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/bikeshedding-you-probably-do-it-every-week/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/bikeshedding-you-probably-do-it-every-week/Teams often obsess over trivial decisions because big strategic choices feel too intimidating, a pattern that prevents real progress.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/they-dont-like-your-idea-so-bring-them-closer/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/they-dont-like-your-idea-so-bring-them-closer/Watering the rocks—harnessing the feedback and stabilising influence of critics—is essential for avoiding fuzzy compromises and achieving success.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-biggest-mistake-i-ever-made/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-biggest-mistake-i-ever-made/Major failures are often the result of accumulated small errors; pick up the phone daily to address issues before they become disasters.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/pretty-much-everything-about-leadership-training-is-wrong/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/pretty-much-everything-about-leadership-training-is-wrong/Generic, event-based leadership training fails because it lacks relational depth and does not address the systemic barriers within schools.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/lessons-from-the-unique-move-in-every-game-of-cards/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/lessons-from-the-unique-move-in-every-game-of-cards/Like a unique card shuffle, strategy requires expert analysis to find the outlier gem that defines success, rather than following generic plans.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-stop-worrying-about-the-things-outside-your-control/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-stop-worrying-about-the-things-outside-your-control/If we want to change the system, we can start by changing something in our small corner of the world, with the people who are with us in that small corner.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/keep-building-an-all-weather-organisation/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/keep-building-an-all-weather-organisation/All-weather organisations deliver the goods, even when the conditions are tough.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-push-your-planning-if-the-time-isnt-right/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-push-your-planning-if-the-time-isnt-right/So put one foot in front of the other, and get consistently better at what you already do well.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whats-your-manifesto-for-2025/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whats-your-manifesto-for-2025/Writing your own manifesto should be an uplifting, optimistic exercise, particularly as we approach the new year.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-perfect-balance-between-autonomy-and-accountability/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-perfect-balance-between-autonomy-and-accountability/Most senior leaders want their teams activated. They want them productive and generating ideas that move the needle of the school’s strategy.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-the-saboteur-in-your-projects-the-cia-think-so/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/are-you-the-saboteur-in-your-projects-the-cia-think-so/The tragedy is that most people are completely unaware of the sabotage they introduce to their projects.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whats-your-philosophy-it-defines-more-than-you-think/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/whats-your-philosophy-it-defines-more-than-you-think/Once you know the answers to those questions for yourself, only then you can set about finding a shared philosophy - or purpose - for your team.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-confident-is-too-confident-and-when-its-not/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/when-confident-is-too-confident-and-when-its-not/No matter how thought-through you think your ideas might be, in general, humans are over-confident, emotional and irrational.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/writing-is-thinking-thank-you-for-being-part-of-our-thinking/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/writing-is-thinking-thank-you-for-being-part-of-our-thinking/Nothing is too sacred when it comes to being the best community you can be, for today. But whatever you do, write it down together, regularly.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-be-boring-and-succeed-according-to-aretha-franklin/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-be-boring-and-succeed-according-to-aretha-franklin/You see, the key to great leadership and team success is to communicate repeatedly about the same, single idea.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-purpose-of-a-system-is-what-it-does/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-purpose-of-a-system-is-what-it-does/It’s for this reason that, if you want to understand what the purpose of an organisation is, all you have to do is look at its behaviour.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/efficient-process-vs-happy-accidents/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/efficient-process-vs-happy-accidents/Community conversations might not change your decision - but they will change the way you go about realising it, for the better.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/we-know-its-bad-but-we-keep-doing-it/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/we-know-its-bad-but-we-keep-doing-it/But grades don't just hurt the kid - they actually harm learning itself.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/flying-lessons-focus-on-one-thing-how-not-to-stop-flying/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/flying-lessons-focus-on-one-thing-how-not-to-stop-flying/When you start to worry that you’re sinking closer to the farm, it’s time to learn.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-could-always-do-with-more-data-sometimes-you-just-need-to-do-it/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-could-always-do-with-more-data-sometimes-you-just-need-to-do-it/You're not asking people to imagine your idea (which they never can). You're asking them to use a real thing.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-over-explaining-your-mission-destroys-it/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/why-over-explaining-your-mission-destroys-it/A good purpose should be unique, and clearly so. Something to stand up for, that helps people do even better than they’d have done without it.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/improvisation-beats-planning-hands-down/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/improvisation-beats-planning-hands-down/Improvisation is hard work. It takes hours - years - of invisible-to-the-crowd practice, and sometimes it doesn’t quite work out as planned.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/assume-all-new-ideas-are-bad-then-work-on-them/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/assume-all-new-ideas-are-bad-then-work-on-them/If you hold onto your ideas too tightly for too long then you end up blind to new ideas and opportunities around you.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/sometimes-we-dont-need-the-boards-opinion/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/sometimes-we-dont-need-the-boards-opinion/Too often, we see Boards operate in a vacuum of quality information, or on the basis of extremely high quality but narrow anecdotal evidence.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-your-dirty-words/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/what-are-your-dirty-words/Sometimes those ‘dirty words’ that we have avoided for so long in education are precisely the words that we need.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/seek-out-some-strategic-tension-it-gives-us-better-ideas/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/seek-out-some-strategic-tension-it-gives-us-better-ideas/Doing real strategy is hard, though, because you're going to annoy someone on the way.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/find-the-perfect-goal-and-get-out-of-their-way/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/find-the-perfect-goal-and-get-out-of-their-way/You can’t tell people what to do if you want the best from them.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-only-need-one-policy-dont-make-more-work-than-you-have-to/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/you-only-need-one-policy-dont-make-more-work-than-you-have-to/We feel that pressure to create lots of content, too, when we write core values or mission statements.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/personalisation-isnt-the-strategy-youre-looking-for/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/personalisation-isnt-the-strategy-youre-looking-for/But we rarely ask, what are the types of relationships schools should model and encourage for everyone, adults and young people alike?https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/show-dont-tell-listen-dont-preach/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/show-dont-tell-listen-dont-preach/All too often, we tell young people what to do because it’s so much easier than showing them. Septuagenarian rocker Alice Cooper has rewritten his perenniahttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/a-new-device-that-will-open-up-conversations-youve-never-had-before/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/a-new-device-that-will-open-up-conversations-youve-never-had-before/I spent four days in the Japanese Alps one summer, away from distractions. The irony of stepping away from work is that my brain seems to make more connections and gain far more clarity.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/who-are-you-talking-to-really/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/who-are-you-talking-to-really/How did a 140-year stalwart of the British high street nearly get obliterated? What if it was because it talked to the wrong people without even realisinghttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-let-fear-write-the-script/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/dont-let-fear-write-the-script/Some of the schools we’re spending time with this past few months have struggled. They’re in a balancing act that nearly every school plays out nearly everhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-you-can-never-run-out-of-time/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-you-can-never-run-out-of-time/I tend to write our weekly newsletter, the Provocation, on a Friday afternoon. This time last week I was struggling to write Monday’s newsletter.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/last-orders-and-a-secret-to-happiness/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/last-orders-and-a-secret-to-happiness/I’m going to ask you to stop ‘giving it your all’. Give it 70% instead.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-say-excellence-once-more-time/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-say-excellence-once-more-time/Every couple of months I find myself in the same discussion with a school leadership team or Board who insist, at all costs, on naming their ‘excellence’.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-unlock-the-magic-of-undivided-attention/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-unlock-the-magic-of-undivided-attention/When I worked in the television industry in 2008, we were at the dawn of cell phones actually being able to do things, and we were experimenting how to invhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/would-you-use-a-teaspoon-to-dig-a-hole/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/would-you-use-a-teaspoon-to-dig-a-hole/A mentor asked me this question over coffee a couple of weeks ago. Would you use a teaspoon to dig a hole?, they asked. Of course not!, I replied.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-most-beautiful-school-in-the-world/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/the-most-beautiful-school-in-the-world/Over the past 50 years Danish beer firm Carlsberg has infamously sold its beer under the advertising tagline Carlsberg. The best lager in the world. Probabhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/design-for-trickiest-customer-on-the-worst-day/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/design-for-trickiest-customer-on-the-worst-day/At the turn of the 1800s, London’s population doubled, making it the biggest city in the world. But it was designed for a population half its size. Peoplehttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-cant-start-small-you-cant-end-big/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/if-you-cant-start-small-you-cant-end-big/On a crisp spring weekend coming out of the pandemic, I played with the Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra again for the first time in 27 years.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-waste-200m-by-trying-to-please-everyone/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-waste-200m-by-trying-to-please-everyone/The Stadio Delle Alpi was built in Turin for the Italia ‘90 World Cup. You can imagine what the brief should’ve been: create a soccer stadium that a billiohttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/youre-a-millionaire-investor-without-even-realising-it/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/youre-a-millionaire-investor-without-even-realising-it/Imagine your local school offers you a stake in it for an incredibly low price. All you need to do is spend less than the price of a textbook and you get ahttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-urgent-isnt-my-urgent-or-hers-or-his/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/your-urgent-isnt-my-urgent-or-hers-or-his/Your urgent isn’t my urgent. Or hers. Or his. Four years ago, the pandemic created a productivity hustle. And it's not gone away.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stopping-advertising-is-like-cutting-off-your-hand/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/stopping-advertising-is-like-cutting-off-your-hand/Henry Ford said: "Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save time." When the financial crisis was at its height in 2009, I starhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/avoid-launching-your-next-big-idea-at-all-costs/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/avoid-launching-your-next-big-idea-at-all-costs/Avoid launching your next big idea. At all costs. After months of devising a fresh idea, and months more planning and researching, it’s tempting to rewardhttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/save-yourself-some-pain-and-know-what-league-you-play-in/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/save-yourself-some-pain-and-know-what-league-you-play-in/Why do people compete knowing they’ll never win a medal? There is some excitement and trepidation in Paris at the moment with the approaching Olympics. Buthttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/where-do-you-want-to-be/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/where-do-you-want-to-be/Establish where you want to be, not what you want. Professor Norman Drummond is a stalwart of quality leadership in the Scottish business world. He believehttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/everythingitis-focus-helps-you-achieve-everything-you-need-to-eventually/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/everythingitis-focus-helps-you-achieve-everything-you-need-to-eventually/Matt Mullenweg founded WordPress. Today, the company’s software drives around 40% of the world’s websites. But it nearly failed. WordPress Version 2.0 washttps://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/a-lack-of-focus-leads-to-terrible-decision-making/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/a-lack-of-focus-leads-to-terrible-decision-making/A lack of focus is a symptom of and contributor to poor decision-making. When you don’t have focus you might find yourself avoiding taking quick decisions.https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-find-laser-sharp-focus/https://www.ewanmcintosh.com/writing/how-to-find-laser-sharp-focus/Has anyone in your leadership team taken up their post in the last two years? Up to half of them will be deemed to have failed within the first two years o