3 Keys to Transform Your Instructional Leadership Team

Instructional leadership isn’t a solo act - and it’s not just about charisma or experience either.

The most effective instructional leadership teams I’ve worked with share three core practices that consistently elevate their work and impact.

If you’re ready to grow your team into a powerful engine for instructional excellence, start here:

1. Tend to the Shadows

Every leader carries quiet doubts. If you walk into team meetings thinking you're an inconvenience or an irritation, your voice and conviction will suffer.

But here’s a powerful question to reflect on: 

What would change if you believed that your leadership is good for the world? 

When we believe our presence is needed- and valuable - we show up differently. We contribute with more courage and clarity.

We lead with integrity, not apology.

2. Rinse and Repeat What Works

The most effective teams don’t reinvent the wheel every week.

They nail down best practices and stick with them. That means:

• A clear agenda for every meeting

• Agreed-upon team norms

• Fidelity to your coaching calendar

Consistency isn’t boring - it’s the backbone of reliable, effective leadership.

3. Raise the Tide, Don’t Lower the Bar

Research shows that high performers thrive when surrounded by other high performers.

Yet too often, I see leadership teams letting each other off the hook - avoiding hard truths, holding back on feedback, or sidestepping necessary tension.

Here’s the truth: Saying the hard thing, talking it through, and staying at the table matters. 

Growth requires pressure, and effective teams don’t shy away from it. They push each other - kindly and clearly - toward excellence.

Because when everyone’s rising, it gets easier to lead at your best.

What would shift for your team if you treated your leadership partnership like one of your most strategic assets?

Cheering you on, 

Maggie

P.S. If you want a professional development plan that actually transforms your leadership team - one that’s consistent, relational, and rooted in what actually works - I’d love to support you. I’m now booking 30-minute consult calls to explore how this new year-long leadership partnership can serve your school. Book your call here and let’s talk about what’s possible.