Leaning into Leadership

Leadership isn’t just about the impact you create today. It’s about the leaders you prepare for tomorrow.In this annual shared episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with fellow leadership coach, author, and podcast host Joshua Stamper for a powerful conversation about one of the most important responsibilities of leadership: developing the next generation of leaders.Darrin and Joshua begin by reflecting on transitions, stress, and the reality every leader faces — even the best plans encounter challenges. The difference is whether leaders have the clarity and intentionality to stay focused on the work that matters most.From there, the conversation turns toward a question every organization should be asking:Who are we intentionally preparing to lead next?Darrin and Joshua share their own “tap on the shoulder” moments — those pivotal conversations where someone saw leadership potential in them before they saw it in themselves. They discuss why leaders have a responsibility to identify potential early and create pathways for others to grow.They also explore why building leaders requires far more than assigning tasks. Covering events, managing duties, or checking off responsibilities does not develop leadership capacity. True leadership development happens when aspiring leaders are given authentic experiences, meaningful conversations, coaching, feedback, and opportunities to sit alongside current leaders.In this episode, Darrin and Joshua discuss:Why leaders have a moral obligation to grow future leadersThe power of identifying leadership potential earlyWhy a simple “tap on the shoulder” can change someone’s career trajectoryHow to create meaningful growth opportunities for aspiring leadersWhy leadership development must move beyond tasks and titlesThe importance of mentoring and coaching through mistakesHelping aspiring leaders gain confidence before they step into the roleWhy instructional leadership experiences are critical preparationHow leaders can build a stronger bench for the futureGreat leaders don’t just create followers. They create more leaders.If we want stronger schools, stronger organizations, and stronger cultures, we have to stop waiting for leaders to appear — and start intentionally developing them.Connect with Joshua StamperWebsite: joshstamper.comPodcast: Aspire to LeadBook/Work: The Language of BehaviorConnect with Dr. Darrin PeppardWebsite: darrinpeppard.comRoad to Awesome: roadtoawesome.net

What does it take to build a leadership team that truly works?In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Marlene Rombach, Rocio Rhoads, and Christina Shires—the leadership team at Locust Grove Middle School in Locust Grove, Virginia—to reflect on their first year leading together.With a first-year principal, a first-year assistant principal, and an assistant principal stepping into a significantly expanded role, this team faced enormous challenges from day one. Yet through intentional communication, trust, coaching, and a commitment to shared leadership, they built a culture that allowed both staff and students to thrive.This conversation is an honest look at leadership in action—the successes, the struggles, and the systems that make sustainable excellence possible.In this episode, you'll hear:Why trust is the foundation of every successful leadership teamHow vulnerability and accountability strengthen leadershipThe importance of role clarity and intentional communicationPractical systems that reduced discipline referrals by nearly 30%Why supporting teachers leads directly to better student outcomesHow coaching accelerated growth and prevented burnoutThe value of reflection, feedback, and continuous improvementWhy leadership teams need a "safe space" to process challenges togetherKey TakeawaysLeadership is a team sport.Strong leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about building relationships, communicating clearly, holding high expectations while providing high support, and creating systems that allow everyone to do their best work.Throughout the conversation, Marlene, Rocio, and Christina demonstrate that the intentional creation of trust doesn't just make leadership more enjoyable—it makes schools more effective.Memorable Quotes"The team has to be strong for the school to be successful.""If we're asking teachers to do something, they deserve to understand the why.""High expectations only work when they're matched with high support.""The more clarity we bring, the more efficiently our school can run."Connect with Dr. Darrin PeppardIf this episode resonates with you, share it with another leader who believes that leadership teams have the power to transform schools.Subscribe to Leaning Into Leadership wherever you listen to podcasts and learn more about leadership coaching, keynote speaking, and the ALIGN Framework at Road to Awesome.Because leadership isn't about doing more.It's about intentionally creating the conditions where other people can do their best work.For leadership coaching, keynote speaking, leadership retreats, and weekly leadership insights, visit roadtoawesome.net or darrinpeppard.comSponsor Spotlight:This episode is sponsored by HeyTutor.HeyTutor partners with schools and districts nationwide to provide evidence-based high-dosage tutoring support in Math and ELA while helping schools remain intentional about staff capacity and student support systems.Learn more here: HeyTutor.com

Landing your first leadership position is exciting...until reality sets in.The meetings, the emails, the difficult conversations, the angry parents, and the constant interruptions can quickly pull new administrators away from the work they were most excited to do: leading people and supporting learning.In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard is joined by Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns, experienced school leaders and co-authors, for a practical conversation about surviving—and thriving—in your first years of school leadership.Together they share strategies for preparing for difficult conversations, building a trusted support network, protecting your time, and leading with intentionality rather than reacting to every urgent issue.Whether you're stepping into your first assistant principal role, becoming a building principal, or mentoring a new leader, this episode is packed with immediately actionable advice.In this episode, you'll learn:Why every school leader needs a trusted "work bestie"How preparation reduces anxiety before difficult conversationsThe planning process that leads to more effective communicationCommon mistakes leaders make during challenging meetingsStrategies for working with frustrated parents and caregiversWhy attacking the problem—not the person—is essentialHow to respond when someone asks, "Do you have a minute?"Practical ways to protect your calendar and prioritize instructional leadershipWhy saying "no" is sometimes the best leadership decisionHow intentional time management creates better leaders and healthier livesMemorable Quotes"Action is the antidote to anxiety.""School leadership is not a solo sport.""Never sacrifice the important at the altar of the urgent.""You are worth so much more than a minute."Connect with Erika Bare & Tiffany BurnsVisit Connecting Through Conversation for resources, blog posts, free planning guides, and information about their books and professional learning opportunities.Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090370647418&mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram https://www.instagram.com/connectingthroughconversation/Linked In Erika Bare https://linkedin.com/in/erika-bare-6a72a6215Linkedin Tiffany Burns https://linkedin.com/in/tiffany-burns-90a50a274LinkedinCTC https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-through-conversation/Twitter https://twitter.com/CTCPlaybook.comYoutube https://www.youtube.com/@CTCPlaybookSponsor Spotlight:This episode is sponsored by HeyTutor.HeyTutor partners with schools and districts nationwide to provide evidence-based high-dosage tutoring support in Math and ELA while helping schools remain intentional about staff capacity and student support systems.Learn more here: HeyTutor.com

This is Part 3 of a three-part series on leadership presence.In Episode 262, we explored the hidden cost of distraction and how trust and psychological safety erode when leaders aren’t fully present.In Episode 263, we discussed how to engineer margin through calendar integrity, decision discipline, and clarity around your top priorities.Now we bring it home.Because presence isn’t performance.Presence is connection.In this episode, Darrin dives into the relational and interpersonal work that makes leadership presence genuine — not polished, not performative, but real.You’ll learn:Why presence is more than eye contact and good postureThe three foundations of genuine presence:AttentionCuriosityEmotional regulationWhy you cannot fake nervous system safetyThe danger of listening to fix instead of listening to understandFour practical signals of authentic presence you can use immediatelyWhy follow-up is one of the most powerful leadership moves you can makeDarrin also shares a story from his superintendent experience that highlights the difference between listening to correct and listening to comprehend.Reflection Question: Where do you need to replace fixing with listening?Thank you to our Amazing SponsorsThis episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.comThis episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode kicks off a powerful three-part series on leadership presence.In Part 1, Darrin explores the hidden cost of distraction and how leaders unintentionally erode trust, psychological safety, and emotional connection when they are not fully present.Through personal stories from his time as a high school principal, Darrin shares moments of realization when distraction cost him relational depth — and what those experiences taught him about culture and leadership.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why presence is not “soft” — it’s culture workThe three things that erode when leaders aren’t fully presentThe difference between productivity and true leadership impactWhy leadership is about stabilizing people, not just solving problemsA simple 60-Second Reset you can use before your next important conversationReflection Question:Where this week does someone need the fully present version of you?This episode sets the foundation for Part 2, where we’ll explore how to intentionally create margin and break the patterns that keep leaders stuck in distraction.Thank you to our Amazing SponsorsThis episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.comThis episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.