Find the task everything else is waiting on Simon Breakspear18 September 2026 During my doctoral work at Cambridge, my supervisor suggested I take half a day off to attend a project management course. For the record, that’s never a good sign. In fairness, I...
Design change that fits a real week, not your best one Simon Breakspear1 September 2026 A while back I volunteered to bring two salads to a big family gathering. I own an Ottolenghi cookbook, so I aimed high. Three hours, two extra trips to the shops and one hunt...
I-Mode and R-Mode Leadership Simon Breakspear5 May 2026 A few weeks ago I was bundling the kids into the Kia Sorento for the school run. My eight-year-old climbed in, clipped his seatbelt, and within thirty seconds said what he always says. “Dad, can we put it...
Most change failure isn’t an idea problem. It’s an absorption problem. Simon Breakspear20 April 2026 I used to teach Year 9 science. Metabolism is the set of processes by which a living organism transforms and regulates energy and materials to stay...
Become your school’s Chief Simplicity Officer Simon Breakspear19 March 2026 A few weeks ago I was working with leadership teams from across an entire system of 100+ schools. Every team had finally completed their 2026 improvement plans. The plans were...
The Power of ‘We get to’ Simon Breakspear5 March 2026 Last week I sat with a leadership team planning their response to a mandated change. Within minutes, the language in the room shifted into a familiar pattern. “We have to get this implemented by...
