Positively Leading

You've been good at your job for years. You've been happy in it. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, it just stops fitting - even though nothing about the role has actually changed. Sound familiar?
In this episode of Positively Leading, Jenny explores a career conversation that rarely gets the airtime it deserves: life stage. Drawing on stories from her coaching practice - a deputy principal drowning under the weight of leadership and young children, a head of department grieving the loss of predictability, a teacher navigating chronic illness and the identity she built around her classroom - Jenny unpacks why the role that energised you at 25 might quietly deplete you at 45.
This isn't about burnout or a bad school. It's about evolution, not revolution - and giving yourself permission to want something different at different points in your career, without guilt.
Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.

After naming the many faces of "stuck," Jenny Cole tackles the defensiveness that conversation stirs up. This isn't teacher-bashing, and it isn't a push to quit - it's about making intentional choices instead of defaulting to guilt, martyrdom, or burnout.
Jenny unpacks why these conversations feel so threatening: our identities get tangled up with our roles, and questioning the job can feel like questioning ourselves. She draws a sharp line between quitting (reactive, driven by escape) and redirecting (intentional, driven by alignment) - and shares her own reckoning with losing her "who-ness" in her "what-ness" after leaving the principalship.
Whether the aligned choice is staying, shifting, pausing, or leaving, Jenny's message is the same: you deserve to make it from clarity, not desperation.
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Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.

Why do talented, dedicated educators end up feeling trapped and exhausted - even when they're great at their jobs? In this episode, host Jenny Cole dives into a special series of episodes exploring what "stuck" really means in education, and what to do next.
Through composite stories from hundreds of coaching conversations, Jenny introduces educators at every career stage - a burnt-out classroom star, an overwhelmed deputy principal, a veteran teacher who's stopped trying - and unpacks five hidden reasons capable people get stuck. It's not about resilience or commitment; it's a system built to keep good people stuck.
Jenny offers permission: to be tired, restless, and honest about where you really are, without shame or judgment.
A compassionate starting point for anyone who's ever dreaded walking through the school doors.
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Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.

Positively Leading is back with a new and exciting season! In this episode, we turn the tables and Jenny is interviewed by Jocelyn Seamer about her new book, Teach, Lead or Lead: What to do when you feel like you can't do it anymore. 
This is a delightful conversation between Jenny and Jocelyn - exploring why Jenny set out to write the book, who it's for, and importantly, what it's NOT about. Settle in for a conversation between friends who are as passionate about education as you are.
Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.

In this episode, Jenny explores why so many school leaders feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the end of the school year - and what they can do to ensure that 2026 feels more sustainable, intentional, and human. Drawing on decades of experience in education and years of coaching leaders, Jenny introduces Starting Strong, a framework designed to help leaders begin the year, a role, or a new initiative with clarity, purpose, and energy.
She walks through the key elements of Starting Strong, including getting clear on what matters most, setting expectations, communicating well, listening to your people, running effective meetings, prioritising wellbeing, and deciding in advance the kind of leader you want to be. Jenny also shares how this work evolved from an ebook, to workshops, to a one-day program, and now into a flexible online course for leaders everywhere.
If you’re determined not to repeat a year of burnout, resentment, or constant firefighting - and you want to lead with greater purpose, balance, and impact - this episode will give you both reassurance and practical direction.
Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.