PiXL Pearls

Did you know, every woodland has a 'hub tree' that is connected to all the other trees through a hidden underground network of fungi? In this episode, Rachel Johnson tells the incredible story of trees and how they care for those who are vulnerable or distressed. Trees stand alone, yet they are connected. As school leaders, we can often feel isolated, but, just like the trees, you are part of a much wider network that can share its expertise, resource, kindness and so much more to pick you up when you need it most. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel Johnson tells us the real Lord of the Flies story, where six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months.  Instead of assumed carnage, they established three things in particular which are the focus for this 10-minute episode: they agreed the roles of the team, created a system for handling conflict, and took deliberate steps to keep morale and hope high.   What is it we can learn from these boys, and use in our own teams to not just allow us to survive but to thrive? PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

The most intelligent animals exhibit the most playful behaviour. The difference, however, is that adults too often condition themselves out of it as they grow up. Why have we stopped having playful behaviour? And why is that a problem?  In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel outlines why fun and laughter are essential to both our personal wellbeing and our relationships with others.  Human beings have a chronological age and a psychological age, and it doesn’t seem to matter how old we get physically, there is a part of us that still longs to act like a child sometimes. It brings people together through a signal of agreement and acceptance, lightens our hearts and distracts our crowded minds. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

Moments of difficulty and trauma, that we've all been through with this pandemic, can be a way of starting our own personal growth: evaluating what's important, reflecting on the past, and thinking about who we want to be in the future. In this episode, Rachel Johnson begins by telling us a story from David Jason's book 'A Del of a Life', to make us consider how ultimately the hard things can help us to grow and blossom. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

If you got to choose to be a ‘super chicken’ leader or an ‘average chicken’ leader you’d choose the former, right? And yet, this isn't what drives the most high-achieving teams.  In this episode, Rachel Johnson draws parallels between a bizarre (and somewhat disturbing) tale of the super chicken massacre and leadership styles. To have ‘super chicken’ leadership means to place value on those who outperform others, an environment where insecurity, fear, and not being in control can leave your staff feeling ‘hen-pecked.   We all understand what it means to have an organizational ‘pecking-order but just how much can we learn from the ‘average’ happy chicken, belonging to a thriving healthy cage, where their social cohesion leads to success?  PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

In order to be your best self, you need the power of the right people behind you and beside you. This episode draws upon the example of one of the most successful Olympians of our time, Michael Phelps, and how the relationship and routine he established with the help of his coach and friend Bob Bowman, set him up for success. Rachel Johnson speaks about habits, routine, and the significance of silence to ask us how we might focus on bringing our best selves to the fore. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

In education, we are in the business of connection. Ultimately, when students, staff and stakeholders feel a sense of community towards your school and its ‘emotional script’, they are likely to engage and commit at a much deeper level. In this episode, Rachel Johnson draws upon stories from Alfred Hitchcock, Apple, Disney and more in order to ask: how does your school make you feel? PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

‘Editing’ is making a decision about what serves you and what you are better off without. This episode draws upon examples from important editors of art, literature, and film in order to help demonstrate why editing is an essential skill for us all. These days are filled with pressures and anxieties, but sometimes it is important to ask, “What are you going to ‘stop’ doing? What can be cut from your ‘to-do’ list?” Listen for 10 minutes to The Art of Editing, take a breath, and then “Cut”   PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

How do you make time to be able to think? Do you allow yourself to stand alone with your thoughts? In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel Johnson puts forward that perhaps many of us are not investing the time we should, to find space and clarity within our own minds. There are 3 things, Rachel suggests, that might help us mentally declutter. We hope at this time, when so many of us feel overloaded and worried, this episode may help you plan out how to find space for you and your thoughts.  PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge.  The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production

In this first episode, The Voice, Rachel talks about the importance of the voices we listen to, and of discovering our own voice and why it may just be important to use it. Reflecting on the year that has gone and being released on the anniversary of Sir John’s death, this episode aims to encourage, challenge and support you, leaving you in no doubt if the important role you play in the lives of others. PiXL Pearls: Short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge.  The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school.  PiXL Pearls Podcast is a We Are In Beta Production