Leading with intent

Jan 8 / Dr Kath Cooper
Being a leader in early childhood education (ECE) is a bit like being the glue, the guide, and sometimes the person who fixes the photocopier. It’s a role full of purpose and rewards—but let’s be honest, it’s hard work, too. You juggle expectations, keep everyone motivated, and sometimes feel like everyone wants a piece of you.

Leading with intent doesn’t mean you have to be perfect—it means showing up with purpose, care, and clarity, even when you’re feeling like you need three coffees just to get through the day. The good news? Looking after yourself as a leader benefits everyone, and when you lead with intent, the impact is worth it.

So, what does it mean to truly lead with purpose and vision? And how can you turn good intentions into meaningful action? Let’s explore the key principles of "Leading with Intent" and how they apply to the unique demands (and joys!) of ECE leadership.
1. Clarify Your Purpose

Leading with intent starts by clarifying your purpose. What is your why? As an ECE leader, your purpose goes beyond checklists and schedules; it is deeply connected to your vision for children, families, and educators.

  • Reflect on Your Values*: What drives you as a leader? Whether it’s fostering a nurturing environment for children, empowering your team of educators, or offering some help to a parent, understanding your core values gives direction to your decisions and actions. For instance, if one of your values is collaboration, ask yourself: How often do I involve my team in decision-making? Or, if you value innovation, reflect on: What’s one new idea I’ve tried to implement this month? By tying your daily actions back to your values, you’ll create a clearer, more intentional path forward.
  • Align Actions to Vision: With clarity of purpose, every decision—from curriculum design to staff development—becomes intentional and aligned with long-term goals.

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge." —Simon Sinek
2. Communicate Clearly and Consistently

Effective communication is foundational to leading with intent, effective communication means sharing information AND listening and responding to feedback. Effective leaders create an environment where all staff can contribute to a centre-wide vision.

  • Be Transparent and Honest: Share relevant information openly to foster trust.
  • Create a Shared Vision: Encourage team discussions about the centre’s goals and ensure every educator understands their role in achieving that shared vision.
  • Model Active Listening: Listening with intent builds stronger relationships and demonstrates that every team member’s voice matters.

Tip: Displaying the key values, vision, and goals of the team reminds people of the wider picture and one-on-one check-ins help keep communication channels open and ensure alignment across the team.

3. Empower Your Team to Thrive

Empowering your team involves providing the tools, resources, and autonomy they need to excel. For example, consider how one leader in an ECE setting encouraged her educators to take ownership of different areas of the centre (and the budget). The team member who loved art managed the art budget, and the teacher who loved sport, the outdoor equipment budget, buying what they needed. This not only sparked creativity but also built confidence among team members, leading to innovative activities for children. Small strategies like this can make a significant difference in fostering a sense of ownership and pride in the team’s work. In the ECE sector, leaders often move between office-based work and teaching alongside their team—this dual role provides an opportunity to lead by example.

  • Trust Your Team: Allow educators the freedom to make decisions within their roles. Empowerment fosters creativity and personal investment in their work.
  • Offer Opportunities for Growth: Encourage professional development, coaching, and reflective practice. Ask “what lights you up?’ and act upon this knowledge.
  • Celebrate Success: Recognise achievements—big and small—to motivate your team and foster a culture of gratitude. Know how people like to be acknowledged – some want everyone to know, others avoid the spotlight.

Action Step: Start by identifying individual strengths within your team. Tools like Gallup’s Clifton Strengths can help you understand how to empower each educator uniquely.
4. Be a Role Model: Lead by Example
Being a leader sometimes feels like you’re expected to have all the answers—even on days when you can’t find your own car keys. Leading with intent doesn’t mean perfection; it means showing up authentically and modelling the values you want to see in your team.

  • Teach Alongside Your Team: Being hands-on in the ECE setting shows that you value teamwork, and the work educators do every day.
  • Demonstrate Continuous Learning: Reflect on your leadership practices, seek feedback, and be open to growth. This sets the tone for a culture of lifelong learning.
  • Show Empathy and Care: Acknowledge the challenges your team faces and provide support where needed.

By leading with integrity, humility, and a commitment to shared learning, you create a culture where educators feel inspired to do their best work.
5. Adapt to Change with Purpose

The ECE environment is ever-changing—whether it’s responding to policy updates, staffing challenges, or new curriculum requirements. Intentional leaders approach change with transparency and purpose. For example, reflect upon the shift towards increased digital documentation in ECE settings.

An intentional leader might have addressed this by explaining the benefits for families, providing training for teachers, and setting realistic goals for implementation.

  • Communicate Early and Often: Before implementing changes, explain the why behind decisions and involve your team in the process.
  • Support Through Transitions: Provide reassurance and practical tools to help your team navigate change confidently.
  • Embrace Innovation: Encourage fresh thinking and new ideas that can enhance learning experiences for children and educators.

"Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a rapidly changing world." —Lauren Bacall
6. Invest in Relationships and Wellbeing
Strong relationships are the foundation of successful ECE leadership. Leading with intent means prioritising the emotional and professional wellbeing of your team.

  • Build Trust: Trust is twofold—you must give it and earn it. Follow through on promises and be consistent in your leadership.
  • Foster Collaboration: Create opportunities for your team to work together, share ideas, and learn from one another.
  • Prioritise Wellbeing: Support a healthy work-life balance and ensure educators feel cared for and valued. Gallup research highlights that women who maintain a balance between work and personal commitments are 50% more likely to thrive and stay engaged in their roles.

Key Insight: Thriving educators create thriving learning environments. When educators feel supported, they are better equipped to nurture the children in their care.

7. Recognise and Celebrate Milestones
Leading with intent isn’t just about looking toward future goals—it’s also about celebrating progress along the way. Recognising achievements keeps momentum alive and shows your team their hard work is valued.

Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge individual and collective successes, from completing projects to seeing children reach key learning milestones.
Make Recognition Meaningful: Ask your team how they like to be recognised. For some, a public shout-out works; for others, a personal note of appreciation has more impact.

Action Step: Establish a regular (ideally weekly) habit of providing brief feedback and recognition. For example, an acknowledgement of an activity that went well, feedback from a parent, or comment on something they have been really working on. This builds a culture of positivity and motivates your team to keep striving for excellence.
Final Thoughts: Turning Intent into Action

Let’s be real—leadership in ECE is not for the faint of heart. Some days, it’s smooth sailing. Other days, you’re a multitasking superhero in need of a nap. But leading with intent reminds us why we do what we do. It’s about showing up with purpose, empowering our teams, and creating environments where educators and children can truly thrive.

So, take a breath, remind yourself of the impact you’re making, and know this: you don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to show up with care, clarity, and a willingness to grow.
Reflect and Act: Take a moment to ask yourself (and then ask your team too):

  • What is my leadership purpose?
  • How can I better support my team to thrive?
  • Am I creating an environment where both educators and children can succeed?

By closing the gap between intent and action, you will inspire positive change, build stronger teams, and make a lasting impact on the lives of the children and families you serve.

Additional Tools and workshops available to support you as a Leader:
  • Riders & Elephants emotions workshop (book a workshop for 2025 and receive three free packs of Emotion cards – valued at over $500).
  • Four Tendencies workshop Your response to expectations determines your “Tendency”. Knowing your Tendency can help you make it more likely that you'll achieve your aims.
  • Gallup Strengths assessments and workshop (Full 34 codes now $60 pp – was $90).
  • Your Values workshop available,

Reach out for more details about how we can work together. 
written by

Dr. Kath Cooper

Dr. Kath Cooper is an experienced educator, leader, and coach passionate about empowering early childhood leaders to lead with intent, purpose, and care. Through workshops, presentations, and coaching, Kath supports leaders in creating thriving teams and meaningful learning environments for children.

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