As Aoba continues to grow from a group of schools into a connected learning community, I’ve been thinking deeply about what leadership looks like in this evolving phase. It’s not just a matter of updating structures or roles. At its core, this shift is about building trust, strengthening relationships, and expanding influence in meaningful ways. The move toward a more layered and distributed model is not about control. It’s about enabling others to lead with clarity, purpose, and confidence.
In this post, I want to share how my own leadership thinking is evolving. Because real change doesn’t come from frameworks alone. It comes from people. Their voice, their agency, and the quality of the trust we build together.
From Control to Culture
Leadership used to mean setting direction and managing tasks. But the complexity of modern schools asks something different of us. It asks for leadership that creates conditions where others thrive. It’s less about holding the answers and more about helping the right questions surface.
At Aoba, we’re shaping leadership as a shared practice. Teachers and middle leaders are not just executing plans; they are shaping them. We are building a culture where decisions are informed by those closest to the learning. This is not delegation for convenience. It is intentional distribution, grounded in expertise and aligned with purpose.
This only works when trust is present. Without trust, what should feel like empowerment can feel like abandonment. Collaboration becomes compliance. Innovation struggles to take root.
Building Trust as a Daily Practice
Trust is not something declared. It is something built, gradually and deliberately. It is shaped by how we listen, how we follow through, and how we respond under pressure. In this more system-wide role, I’ve come to see that influence does not come from position alone. It comes from relationships. From credibility earned through consistency, empathy, and integrity.
That’s why much of my leadership now is about listening and supporting, not directing. It’s slower, yes, but it is more sustainable. The more we invest in these daily interactions, the more we strengthen the fabric of our school group.
Distributed Leadership Rooted in Learning
We’ve all experienced the version of distributed leadership that lives in theory only. Titles without influence. Meetings without change. What we’re working toward is more authentic. We want leadership that is deeply connected to learning and professional growth.
Our coordinators are shaping curriculum, not just managing it. Our team leaders are anchoring learning communities, not just ticking boxes. This isn’t about easing the load for school heads. It’s about expanding leadership around the things that matter most for our students and staff.
Trust Shifts the Conversation
When trust is present, everything changes. Learning communities become spaces of professional dialogue. Feedback becomes a shared tool for improvement. Teams step forward with ownership, not because they are told to, but because they are trusted to.
None of this happens by accident. We are being deliberate about how leadership is shaped, how we communicate across campuses, and how we reinforce clarity in our shared goals. Distributed leadership still needs coherence. It benefits from having a shared centre of gravity and a clear set of values.
Context Matters, Values Guide
Each Aoba campus has its own culture and context. Our leadership must adapt to these realities. But while approaches may vary, our values remain constant. We lead with learning at the centre. We prioritise trust in every relationship. We see leadership as a collective responsibility.
Good leadership balances clarity with flexibility. It protects alignment while allowing for local agency. And it ensures that every decision, no matter where it’s made, supports student learning and wellbeing.
A Shared Responsibility for the Road Ahead
As you follow my journey at Aoba, I invite each of you to reflect:
- Where are you building influence in your role?
- How are you creating trust in your daily interactions?
- Are your leadership actions moving learning forward?
- What more can we do together to grow a culture of authentic, shared leadership?
Our future depends not just on good design, but on strong relationships. I encourage you to continue to lead in ways that bring out the best in your teams and keep your focus where it belongs: on the growth of every learner in your care.
Because when leadership is rooted in trust and guided by shared values, we do more than run schools. We grow a thriving learning community.
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