Lead Like A Finn!

The Finnish school system is renowned for the professionalism of its teachers who, to those visiting from other countries, appear more qualified, more innovative and more collaborative than teachers elsewhere. Or, as a school leader put it when I was there, “they’re really sorted!”

This combination of mastery, autonomy and collective efficacy - this sortedness - is a key driver for the country’s educational success. But it also requires a particular form of leadership to enable, develop and sustain the complexity that results from such an engaged and dynamic workforce. So, working with Finnish Global Educati0n Solutions (FGES), I have helped to develop Lead Like A Finn!

Lead Like A Finn! is an online professional development course for school leaders and leadership groups in K-12 settings that are looking to both innovate and sustain that innovative practice.

Comprising:

• six taught modules

• six focused development tasks, and

• six reflection and feedback sessions

… the course provides participants with insights into highly effective school leadership practices, combining examples from Finland’s world-leading school system with international research on educational leadership.

The Lead Like A Finn! programme includes a range of tools and strategies for you to use as you create an innovative and forward-thinking learning community, leading your staff towards the highest levels of professional achievement and preparing your students for life and work in the modern world.

MODULE 1 - Shared leadership model

• values in the shared leadership model

• roles & responsibilities of leaders

• building collective efficacy

MODULE 2 - 21st century pedagogy

• pedagogy & leadership

• pedagogical baseline

• SEL embedded into school culture

MODULE 3 - Staff wellbeing as a success factor

• a whole school perspective

• monitoring staff wellbeing

• creating a staff wellbeing programme

MODULE 4 - Being an effective school leader

• schools as organisations

• personal capabilities

• what effective leaders do differently

• models for leadership

MODULE 5 - Creating & leading high-performing teams

• leading & managing teams

• coaching for engagement & motivation

• team competencies

• team development

MODULE 6 - Setting your school’s direction

• vision & mission

• strategy

• organisational culture & values

• scenario planning for uncertainty