You feel exhausted hearing all the roles of a leader: aspirers of high expectations and great ambitions, builders of collectives of learners and professional development, social influences among leaders and teachers, leaders of teaching and learning, those who apply principles of improvement, amplifiers of effective instruction, architects of productive and inviting climates, beacons of trust, supporters of clarity about purpose and instruction, chief engagement officers of teacher and student learners, evaluators of impact, accountability officers, leaders of improvement, implementation scientists, and great managers. The alternative is a school of independent contractors, where great teaching and leadership is by
chance. How Leadership Works makes a convincing case about how to bring all these roles to fruition and how to have time left over to enjoy the success of all in the school (as well as your own successes).

To enhance your skills as a teacher of teachers, How Leadership Works: A Playbook for Instructional Leaders invites you to be an engaged learner. If you are looking for a nightstand book to passively peruse before sleep, this is not the book for you. If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and invest in some serious reflection about your own leadership practices around a powerful set of ideas, then dig in! This book is organized around a set of modules that include learning intentions and success criteria, vignettes, research-based practices, and space for reflection on what you will keep, stop, or start doing with what you have learned. It includes a variety of learning tools that will not only support you in your learning but will become a valuable set of tools for you to use as you support the thinking and learning of the teachers you lead. In the end, the thinking and learning of your students will be blossom and grow.

This publication is very timely. . . . As I read the book, I was able to visualize how I would use it to provide professional development for my leadership team. . . . The book called many of my actions into question, which has already reshaped my thinking as a leader. I would recommend this publication to school and district leaders.

I found tremendous value in the suggested exercises throughout. They felt relevant to help me work through a leadership challenge, and determine the next right step, without taking an overwhelming amount of effort or time. The exercises would be beneficial for both novice and veteran leaders. This playbook helps leaders break down complicated scenarios into manageable next steps.