
Leadership That Doesn't Make People Hide in the Cupboard
From Keeping Current in Early Childhood Education by ECE Learning Unlimited
February 10, 2026 · 9 min · Season 1 · Episode 30
About this episode
Jess discusses the impact of leadership styles on staff well-being in early childhood education.
Send us Fan Mail In this easy-listening, laugh-while-you-learn episode, Jess - mum of three young kids (including twins) and long-time ECE teacher and leader - lifts the lid on what leadership really feels like. She explores why some leaders accidentally send staff into fight-or-flight mode, and how emotionally steady, human-centred leadership can completely change the vibe of a centre. With humour, honesty, and real-life stories, Jess shows how tiny everyday actions create teams who feel saf...
People in this episode
Host: Jess
Topics covered
- leadership
- early childhood education
- human-centred leadership
- team dynamics
- emotional intelligence
Keywords
- leadership
- ECE
- emotional safety
- team building
- fight-or-flight response
More episodes of Keeping Current in Early Childhood Education
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- Seeing strength: Mentoring for diverse learners in Aotearoa · May 21, 2026 · 12 min
- Holding the Space: Supporting Children Through Conflict · April 19, 2026 · 9 min
- The Art of Inspiring Mentorship · February 16, 2026 · 15 min
- The Chaos Reset Button · January 25, 2026 · 10 min
- Mat times in ECE: Love them or leave them? · October 13, 2025 · 43 min
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