Five Ways of Being

Strengthen Your Leadership Skills to Have Maximum Impact

Discover 32 strategies to maximise your impact as a leader of learning.

When you become a leader of learning, you face a raft of everyday pressures that can have you feeling like you’re in a race against time. There can be competing agendas, difficult people to manage or mentor and endless tasks to tick off.

While you may have initially chosen this career because you love to teach, suddenly you find yourself thrust into the position of an executive, often without the support you need. Do you struggle to know what your leadership style should be? Do you know how to have a major impact, or even how to measure it? Or perhaps you struggle to trust everyone you work with or lead? With all these competing demands, it’s easy to forget that learning lies at the heart of everything you do.

Based on the book, Five Ways of Being, this inspiring program will take you on an in-depth process of discovery to find out what being an effective learning leader looks, sounds and feels like.

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Testimonials

What past participants are saying

“Thank you for delivering an interactive, inviting and inspiring workshop with loads of practical takeaways.”

Nadia

“It was a fabulous day, well executed and I left feeling more empowered.”

Pauline

“The presenters were all so clearly passionate about learning, relationships and growth- and it was contagious. A lovely balance of concepts with their practical applications, plus I picked up so much helpful vocabulary for articulating concepts that have challenged me in the past”

Georgia

“One of the most powerful professional development days I have been on!”

Tracey

“The opportunity to learn from highly skilled and experienced practitioners who modelled many of the strategies in their book. Their passion, care, and regard for what they do was infectious. I also appreciated the opportunity to work with and share experiences with a variety of leaders from other sites and contexts.”

Teresa

“The opportunity to reflect on myself and my own being. I loved the individual sessions around each of the 5 ways and being. The presenters were fantastic and each one of them engaging in their own way”

Linda

Become the Leader you Want to Be

Do you feel comfortable as the leader you are, or do you feel more like an imposter?

If it’s the latter, this program will help you shift your narrative – and help you develop the mindset of a learning leader. Learn to look within and embrace the ‘Five Ways of Being’: being trusting, being brave, being a storyteller, being purposeful and being growth-focused.

As a leader, you’ll know that the success of any school community is intrinsically bound to effective leadership at all levels. Through this program, we’ll give you the know-how and confidence to reach your hidden potential.

In this program, specifically designed for leaders including principals, deputy principals, and senior, middle and emerging leaders, you’ll learn how to apply the ‘Five Ways of Being’ to become a leader who is more trusting, brave, compelling, purposeful and focused on growth.

You’ll walk away with practical, evidence-based strategies, improved leadership skills and a renewed sense of clarity and confidence.

Program Options

Conference Keynote or Breakout Sessions

Book your keynote or breakout session for your conference including the topics:

Learning Leadership: The Challenge of Our Times
Five Ways of Being: The Commitment to Learning all Leaders Make
The Key to Learning Leadership: Being Trusting
The Key to Learning Leadership: Being Brave
The Key to Learning Leadership: Being a Storyteller
The Key to Learning Leadership: Being Purposeful
The Key to Learning Leadership: Being Growth Focused

One Day Workshop

An introduction to the theories and potential application of the innovative Five Ways of Being model for leading learning. The Five Ways of Being Workshop inspires and supports learning leaders to take charge of their own leadership story. Our world-class leadership experts will help you undertake career-changing self-discovery, giving you practical tools you need and can immediately use.

Learn more about your current leadership identity and its implications
Increase your capacity to be trustworthy, brave, compelling, purposeful, and growth-focused
Discover what’s required to consciously commit to both your own development and others’, in the ongoing pursuit of learning for all
Transform your school culture through what you think, do and say every day
Uncover up to 32 practical strategies you can use in your leadership approach today

Five Day Masterclass

Unleash your inner leadership powers with this exclusive Five Ways of Being Masterclass. Work intensively to strengthen your capacity to influence others through discovering how you can become more trusting, brave, compelling, purposeful and growth-focused. This masterclass is a deeply personal exploration of how you can apply the theories and thinking of the Five Ways of Being in your own context and with your own challenges to increase your impact.

Learn also how to recognise and tackle the things that get in the way of being a learning leader with maximum impact.

This masterclass takes leaders through a transformational process to unleash your inner leadership power in the pursuit of learning for all. This occurs through a profound immersion in the deep work on self which must precede our work with others.

Your leadership identity and how you show up as leaders
Your leadership ‘why’
Unhelpful assumptions that may cloud your judgments and reduce your impact
What pushes your buttons and gets in the way of who you want to be as a leader and what to do about it
The power of storytelling to influence and impact both those you lead and your own leadership story
Why, what and how you can lead from position of trust, bravery ascend purpose
Ways to keep at the heart of your leadership your own and others’ growth

Online Leadership Program

The Five Ways of Being Online Leadership Program supports leaders in the development of their own leadership style and strengthens their capacity to have a major impact on learning. With many competing demands, it’s easy for leaders to forget that learning lies at the heart of everything they do.

This online program both challenges and supports learning leaders to author their own leadership story through career-changing self-discovery and practical tools. The program leaders engage participants in the theory, thinking, and practice learning leaders undertake to truly transform the way they see their own leadership, and help others do the same. The benefit of this program is engaging with other leaders in grappling with common challenges through the cultivation of a truly transformational online community.

Who Is It For

Our programs are designed for principals, deputies, senior leaders, middle leaders and emerging leaders, as well as leadership teams looking to develop a common language for their leadership. It offers up to 32 comprehensive strategies to enhance the leadership capacity of professionals across all levels of a school setting.

What You'll Learn

Unleash the Transformative Power of “Being”

Move beyond the idea of leadership as just taking action. Discover the profound impact a leader’s character has on the school community. Learn how to cultivate a “way of being” that fosters a thriving learning environment.

Develop a Culture of Learning Leaders

Equip yourself with practical approaches to create a space where your colleagues can flourish as learning leaders. Build trust, courage, purpose, and growth within your team.

Master the “Five Ways of Being”

Deepen your understanding of the core beliefs about learning that underpin effective leadership. Explore the “Five Ways of Being” and how they shape your leadership identity, leading to a more impactful and fulfilling role.

Evolve Your Leadership Identity

Gain valuable insights into your current leadership style and how it influences your effectiveness. Learn strategies for continuous personal and professional development, allowing you to become the leader you aspire to be.

Build Trust and Inspire Your School Community

Cultivate essential leadership qualities like trust, courage, a captivating presence, purpose, and a growth mindset. Discover how these traits empower you to create a positive and impactful leadership experience.

Transform Your School Culture

Learn practical strategies to create a thriving school culture built on continuous learning and development. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to foster a positive, growth-oriented environment for everyone.

Program Facilitators

Jane Danvers

Jane Danvers is a distinguished educational leader renowned for her profound impact on Australia’s educational landscape. With over 20 years of experience, Jane has held prominent roles, including Principal of Wilderness School for 15 years and her current position as Principal of Kambala. Her leadership extends beyond administrative duties, shaping educational practices and fostering positive change.

Jane’s expertise in educational leadership is exemplified by her authorship of “Five Ways of Being,” a seminal work that reflects her commitment to excellence and innovation in education. Her contributions to the field have not only transformed schools but also influenced the broader educational community, establishing her as a thought leader in educational leadership and change management.

Heather De Blasio

Heather De Blasio is a respected Leadership & Team Development Specialist with a career spanning over 20 years, dedicated to nurturing leadership potential in individuals and teams. Currently holding the role of Director of Leadership & Human Potential at Wilderness School and serving as a Programs & Learning Advisor at Grift Education, Heather is recognized for her authentic approach to leadership development.

Heather is also a published author, contributing her expertise to “Five Ways of Being,” a seminal work in the field of leadership development. Her commitment to unleashing leadership potential is evident in her diverse leadership roles in pastoral care, curriculum development, and teaching across independent schools. Heather’s passion for fostering growth and removing barriers to individual achievement underscores her dedication to empowering others.

Gavin Grift

Gavin Grift, the visionary founder and CEO of Grift Education, is a revered figure in the realm of person-centered leadership. Renowned for his passion, humor, and captivating style, Gavin is among Australia’s most sought-after presenters. His keynotes, seminars, and coaching services resonate with audiences worldwide, inspiring them to embrace authentic collaboration, foster success in others, and embrace reflective practices. Gavin’s leadership roles span diverse settings, including schools and businesses, where he has served as a coach, team leader, network leader, executive director, and managing director.

Driven by the belief that every student deserves equal opportunities for success, Gavin champions initiatives to empower educators and reduce the impact of the ‘teacher lottery.’ His transformative programs focus on coaching, collaboration, and teaching excellence, aiming to elevate teaching standards and student outcomes. As a best-selling author with nine educational books to his credit, including “Five Ways of Being” and “Transformative Collaboration,” Gavin’s influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the future of education and leadership.