Today, I’m bringing the first season of the podcast to a close. I’m sharing some stats, some news and saying a massive thank you to you all! 

The episode at a glance:

[0:20] – Bye-bye comfort zone! I talk about overcoming my fear to launch the podcast and how much of a fun experience it has been.

[1:31] – The bit with the stats. I share some insane stats from the first season… and you made them happen!

[2:39] – Fancy joining me? I’ve started recording Season 2 already and I’m  looking for new guests! Get in touch if you fancy it!

Resource:

DOWNLOAD: Season 1 SBL Podcast Guide

Want to know more about what I do and the types of CPD that I offer?

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You can also find me here:

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources 

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       LinkedIn

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

In this episode, I’m sharing my top delegation tips. If you’ve ever thought, ‘it’s just easier to do it myself’ rather than delegate to a member of your team then this episode is for you! 

I talk about what might be stopping you and how you can go about it without stressing yourself out even more… 

The episode at a glance:

[0:29] – I talk about the barriers I put up to justify not delegating and how you should question them.

[3:00] – I share some failsafes I have used in the past to help me delegate successfully.

Support:

If you’re still panicking about the size of your workload and you need some support, then please get in touch. I’m always here if you need to talk.

You can also find me here:

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       LinkedIn

Related Content

PODCAST: Episode 40 – A Framework For Line Management

PODCAST: Episode 37 – How To Deal With Interruptions

RESOURCE: Line Managing Difficult Staff

PODCAST: Difficult Conversations - 3 Questions To Ask Yourself

BLOG: How To Lead When Everything Is Out Of Control

BLOG: How To Prepare For Difficult Conversations

BLOG: How To Set Staff Objectives For Performance Management

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me...

In this episode, I’m sharing the line management framework I recommend to SBLs, Heads and CEOs. 

Not sure how often you should meet with your staff? 

Want to improve communication with your team? 

Trying to build up to a difficult conversation? 

This episode has the answers!

The episode at a glance:

[0:45] – I talk about how to create safe, informative meetings with staff that avoid too much formality but still feel structured and professional.

[3:36] – I describe some of the situations that would require you to adjust your management style and how to do so effectively.

Support:

This framework has been tried and tested by me and other school leaders, but you will need to tweak it to your particular staff needs and context. I hope you found this useful and know that you are not the only one who struggles with difficult conversations. If you’re dealing with a difficult situation and want some extra guidance, get in touch and we can talk about it together!

You can also find me here:

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       LinkedIn

Related Content

RESOURCE: Line Managing Difficult Staff

PODCAST: Difficult Conversations - 3 Questions To Ask Yourself

BLOG: How To Lead When Everything Is Out Of Control

BLOG: How To Prepare For Difficult Conversations

BLOG: How To Set Staff Objectives For Performance Management

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in...

In today’s episode, we are going international for the very first time!

Katie Taylor joins me from Western Australia to talk about how the role of School Business Leader compares across the two countries. We talk job titles, job roles, CPD, networks and much, much more!

The episode at a glance:

[1:49] – Katie talks about how she came across the podcast and how it resonated with her 

[4:11] – We talk job titles and job roles… what’s the same and what’s different?

[7:52] – Katie explains where the SBL role fits in with the leadership structure and how the role continues to evolve 

[14:10] – We explore career progression and the wider education landscape in Australia

[17:31] – Katie talks about the challenges of geography and how it impacts on education operationally including networking and the role of professional associations

[26:57] – Katie talks about SBL qualifications and professional development

{29:30] – Katie tells us more about her journey into education and to the role of SBL and what the differences are between primary and secondary

[34:40] – Brace yourself as Katie talks us through the structure of the school year and school days!

[40:51] – Katie shares some final thoughts and observations

Related content:

- Follow Katie on Twitter

Book recommendations from Katie:

- Above And Beyond The Bottom Line: The Extraordinary Evolution Of The Education Business Manager – Karen Starr

- The Business Of School Leadership: A Practical Guide For Managing The Business Dimension Of Schools - Larry Smith And Dan Riley

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

You can find Laura here…

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       

Neil Limbrick, IT Consultant and Partner of Limbrick Consultancy LLP, joins me to talk about the challenges facing the sector today and how SBLs and ICT teams can work together to create some truly innovative and sustainable solutions.

In particular, Neil digs into the key relationship that is the SBL and ICT lead and talks about how you can develop a shared mission and vocabulary to make that partnership even stronger.

The episode at a glance:

[2:32] – Neil talks about the challenges that schools and particularly ICT teams have faced throughout the pandemic

[9:28] – Neil discusses the disconnects and the common ground between SBLs and ICT and how we can accomplish more together

[20:55] – Neil talks about what we can do better to help the ICT team do their job to maximum effectiveness before turning the tables onto ICT teams…

[26:14] – Neil emphasises the value of ICT and the ongoing financial investment needed when you make an ICT purchase

[39:11] – Neil gives us his final thoughts on how ICT and SBLs can have a synergistic relationship

Related content:

- Follow Neil on Twitter

- Limbrick Consultancy

- The Education Collective

- Neil’s Website

Other resources:

- PODCAST: Why You Should Employ An ICT Apprentice

- PODCAST: How To Become A Paperless School

- BLOG: Supporting Your Support Staff

- BLOG: How To Get All Your Staff Involved In The Financial Wellbeing Of Your School

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

You can find Laura here…

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       

In this episode, I’m sharing my go-to system to help school business leaders manage interruptions. 

I’m also sharing a 3-step process to help you to create structure, set boundaries and say no as well as some useful phrases to say to others to help you get started!

The episode at a glance:

[0:45] – I talk about the importance of boundaries and why I used to feel uncomfortable saying no 

[2:37] – I share a strategy to help you to build structure into your role and two other steps to create boundaries that stick

[4:54] – I tell you about my go-to system and how you can use it effectively

[9:28] – I talk about how to make this system work and what to expect as you implement it

Support:

If you’re feeling like you could use some extra support, please get in touch if you want to talk.

You can also find me here:

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       LinkedIn

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

Micon Metcalfe, School Business Professional and MAT Executive Leader, returns to the show to talk about all things financial benchmarking. Is it worth it? How does it work? What info should you be looking at? This episode has all the answers!

And because it’s us… we didn’t stop there (again!) We also talk about governance, Ofsted, the ESFA, the DfE, the SRMA role and MATs in terms of growth, central team structures and what we think the future holds for education generally…

Really, there is nowhere we won’t go!

The episode at a glance:

[2:15] – Micon shares her views on financial benchmarking, how and why this has shifted over time and the role of the SRMA

[29:04] – Micon discusses Ofsted inspections from a MAT perspective plus how she feels about scrutiny, GAG-pooling, and much more! 

[40:27] – Micon shares her advice for those SBLs who aren’t ‘allowed’ to observe or participate in critical strategic discussions 

[46:22] – Micon talks about how you can get started with financial benchmarking 

[01:02:02] – Micon talks about the challenges in the sector both now and moving forward and what we can do to weather them

Related content:

-  Follow Micon on Twitter

Other resources:

- PODCAST: My SBL Journey: Micon Metcalfe

- PODCAST: Budget Setting And Monitoring

- PODCAST: Financial Management Post-COVID

- BLOG: How To Get All Staff Involved In The Financial Wellbeing Of Your School

- RESOURCE: Schools Financial Benchmarking

- RESOURCE: Benchmark Your School

- RESOURCE: View My Financial Insights

- RESOURCE: Guidance Tool For MAT Growth

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

You can find Laura here…

-       

Micon Metcalfe, School Business Professional and MAT Executive Leader, joins me to talk about her SBL journey, the evolution of the SBL role, what the future holds for the profession and how SBLs can prepare themselves for it…

The episode at a glance:

[1:50] – Micon talks us through her entry into and through the education sector

[12:56] – Micon delves into the changes and challenges she experienced moving from a small primary to a larger primary and then onto a secondary 

[30:08] – Micon talks about her experiences with and thoughts about the financial elements of the role and we talk about how important an accountancy qualification actually is

[51:14] – Micon shares her thoughts on how the role will evolve in the future 

[1:09:32] – Micon shares her ideas on how the SBL community can support each other and how we can raise the profile of the profession 

Related content:

-  Follow Micon on Twitter

Other resources:

- PODCAST: My SBL Journey: 30 Years In – My Advice to You

- PODCAST: Your Career & CPD – How To Decide What’s Next

- PODCAST: Moving From Primary To Secondary

- BLOG: How To Choose The Right CPD for You

- BLOG: How To Build Your Confidence

- RESOURCE: Guidance Tool For MAT Growth

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Click here to leave me your details and I'll be in touch soon!

Subscribe:

·       If you haven’t already, make sure you hit subscribe in your podcast player so you don’t miss out on future episodes! 

·       Or click here if it’s easier!

Get in touch:

You know I love to hear from you so please pop me an email or get in touch on social media to let me know what you think of the show and what you’d like to see in the future!

You can find Laura here…

-       Website, Blog & Free Resources

-       Twitter

-       Instagram

-