Staff Wellbeing Is Not Yoga (And Other Things We Need to Stop Pretending)

Over the last few years, staff wellbeing has become one of the most commonly used phrases in education leadership. Yoga after school. Mindfulness apps. Staff breakfasts. Wellbeing days. And yet — teachers and support staff are still leaving. In this episode of The Leadership Lens, I talk honestly about why so many wellbeing initiatives fail to retain staff, and what actually makes the difference when it comes to keeping good people in schools. This episode was sparked by a comment I received this year: “Your school is outstanding — you must be difficult to work for.” That assumption stopped me in my tracks. Because in my experience, high standards and high staff retention are not opposites. In fact, they depend on one another. Across this extended episode, I explore what ten years of leadership in a complex, inner-city context has taught me about retention — not as a wellbeing problem, but as a work design and leadership behaviour issue. We talk about: - Why teachers don’t leave because they’re not calm enough — they leave because they feel trapped, ineffective, or morally compromised - How workload becomes unsustainable not through one big thing, but through hundreds of small, poorly designed demands - Why moral injury — not lack of resilience — sits underneath so much attrition - How predictable rhythms, clarity of communication, and fairness reduce anxiety more than any initiative - What actually happens when leaders remove work, protect time, and say “stop” - Why staff stay where they feel trusted, effective, and safe enough to be honest - How believing in people before they believe in themselves builds leadership capacity and long-term stability - Why micromanagement quietly drives good people out — and what to do instead - How calling out unhelpful cultural behaviours early protects staff dignity and trust - Why wellbeing isn’t something you give staff — it’s something you stop taking away This episode is not about being “nice”. It’s about being serious about professional time, dignity, and sustainability. If you’re a headteacher, executive leader, or trust leader who is asking: “How do I stop losing good people?” …this episode is for you. Inside the Premium Members Hub, I’ve shared a Staff Retention Audit Toolkit designed to help leaders move beyond wellbeing initiatives and take an honest look at: - Where work design is draining staff - Where predictability and fairness are breaking down - Where agency, competence, or psychological safety need strengthening - What can realistically change in the next 2 weeks, half term, and term It’s practical, leadership-facing, and designed to support real decision-making — not add another task to your list. Premium members can access the toolkit now in the hub here: https://the-leadership-lens.mykajabi.com/premium-membership