What does it really mean to lead through uncertainty, disruption and loss?
In this episode, Rachel Johnson is joined by Victoria Reed and Jo Smith to discuss Come What May by Professor Lucy Easthope, a powerful and compassionate guide to navigating life’s most difficult moments. Drawing on her experience supporting survivors of major disasters, Easthope offers a clear-eyed view of what recovery actually looks like, not a straight line, but a complex and often messy process.
Together, they explore what this means for school leaders: how to respond in moments of crisis, how to support others without overreaching, and how to recognise the quieter phases of recovery that often go unseen. From the idea of the “slump” to the risks of learned helplessness, this conversation brings honesty, depth and practical wisdom to the realities of leading in challenging times.
This is an episode about resilience, but not the polished kind. It’s about carrying on, making sense of what’s happened and finding a way forward with care, patience and humanity.
If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club...
Check out the PiXL website: https://www.pixl.org.uk/ for free downloads
Read Rachel's three books:
Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them
Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them
Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead
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