Janine Stratford: Strategic Thinking & What Got You Here Won't Get You There | Episode 166

About this episode

Meg Durham interviews Janine Stratford about the importance of strategic thinking in education and its impact on decision-making.

“When we skip the thinking, we often create more work for ourselves.” Janine Stratford When was the last time you gave yourself time to think? In this episode, Meg Durham sits down with Janine Stratford , author of Leading for Tomorrow, Today: School Leadership with Purpose, Alignment and Lasting Impact , to explore the role of strategic thinking in the day-to-day reality of school life. This conversation moves beyond strategic plans and leadership meetings, focusing instead on the ability of individual educators to think strategically within the pace and pressure of everyday school environments. Together, they unpack the difference between fast, reactive thinking and slower, more considered thinking, and why the pressure to respond quickly can often lead to rework, frustration and unnecessary emotional load. ---- Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 What sparked Janine’s work in strategic thinking 05:00 The cost of quick decision-making 07:00 What strategic thinking actually is 10:00 Common myths about strategic thinking 14:00 The benefits of thinking strategically 21:00 Why leaders struggle to step back 26:00 Creating space for strategic thinking 36:00 What to do in your…

People in this episode

Host: Meg Durham

Guest: Janine Stratford

Topics covered

• strategic thinking
• school leadership
• decision-making
• educational pressure
• individual educators

Keywords

• strategic thinking
• school leadership
• decision-making
• educational pressure
• individual educators
• reactive thinking
• considered thinking

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Leading for Tomorrow, Today: School Leadership with Purpose, Alignment and Lasting Impact

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