📰 Opinion: They're Not Just Leaving. They're Leading Themselves.

📰 Opinion: They're Not Just Leaving. They're Leading Themselves.

You’ve likely noticed it — the quiet, steady exodus of experienced education leaders from our schools.

They’re not flaking out. They’re not giving up.
They’re responding to something deeper.

And the numbers back it up:

• In New Zealand, 47% of new principals plan to leave their roles within five years.

• In Australia, 39% of school leaders don’t expect to stay until retirement.

• In the UK, over half of leaders who leave a post exit the profession entirely.

• In the US, 1 in 6 educators plan to leave this year alone — burnout and misalignment top the list.

This isn’t just about fatigue.
It’s about fit.
It’s about freedom.
It’s about finally getting honest about what the role demands… and what your soul needs.

So what’s driving this?

In my work with former principals, APs, Kāhui Ako leads and system-level leaders, I keep hearing the same themes:

🔻 System pressures are unrelenting

Policy churn. Compliance creep. Public scrutiny. Leaders are pulled away from what matters — relationships, culture, learning — and pushed into bureaucracy, reporting, and risk management.

🔻 Role design no longer fits

The role has become a shadow of what it once was. Many leaders say, “I’m doing everything except the work that lights me up.”

🔻 There’s a growing misalignment

Values clash with new boards. Ethical strain builds. That quiet voice starts to whisper: “This isn’t what I signed up for.”

🔻 And then comes the moment

It’s rarely dramatic. It’s subtle. A policy reversal. A health scare. A line crossed in a board meeting. A single consulting invitation that whispers: “There’s another way.”

I call this the “exit ignition.”
And once it sparks… it’s hard to ignore.

The 10 Truths Behind Why Leaders Leave

It’s rarely one big thing. It’s the slow accumulation of pressures — and one final straw.

1. System-Level Pressure — Endless policy shifts, reporting, talent gaps.

2. School/Board Dynamics — Misaligned values, political noise, culture drift.

3. Role Design & Career Ceiling — Admin-heavy, impact-light leadership.

4. Health, Energy & Wellbeing — Chronic stress, disrupted sleep, compassion fatigue.

5. Life Stage & Family Catalysts — Empty nests, aging parents, mortality checks.

6. Values & Purpose Misalignment — When your body knows before your brain does.

7. External Pull Factors — Keynotes, consulting, new platforms for impact.

8. Reputation & Incident Fatigue — Public complaints, media drama, trust erosion.

9. Financial Realities — Mortgage paid. Superannuation set.

10. Post-Crisis Perspective — The pandemic reset priorities. “If not now, when?”
    

But here’s the truth:

They’re not leaving because they’ve given up.
They’re leaving because they’re waking up.

Waking up to misalignment.
Waking up to untapped legacy.
Waking up to a quiet knowing:
There’s more I’m here to do — just not like this.

This isn’t a loss of leadership.
It’s a redistribution of it.

What This Means — For You

If you're in that “messy middle”—no longer in the role, but not yet sure what’s next—I see you.

It’s okay not to have a roadmap (yet).
It’s okay to feel both relieved and rudderless.
It’s okay to start designing your next chapter before burnout becomes your baseline.

Because your impact isn’t over.
Your energy isn’t gone.
And your purpose hasn’t expired.

It’s waiting.
For you.
To decide.

✨ The Opportunity of Now

If you’re reading this and nodding quietly, here’s what I want you to know:

You’re not broken.
You’re not behind.
And you’re definitely not alone.

What you’re experiencing is a real-time evolution — a transition from role to legacy.

You’re being invited into something deeper:

• To clarify who you are beyond the title.

• To reclaim your energy and leadership on your own terms.

• To design a next chapter that energises you and leaves ripples of impact.

This isn’t about burning bridges.
It’s about building something bold — a version of success rooted in your values, your rhythm, and your definition of impact.

So what if…

• You didn’t wait until you were completely burnt out to realign?

• You didn’t need the whole five-year plan before you took the first step?

• You started designing your legacy today — not “someday”?
  

The leaders I work with aren’t walking away because they’re lost.
They’re walking because they’re ready.

Ready to lead differently.
Live intentionally.
And leave something real behind.

Your Next Step

If you’re in that messy middle — between chapters, between clarity, between versions of yourself — this is your sign.

You don’t need to figure it all out alone.

🧭 Book a free 30-minute Next Chapter Clarity Call
Let’s map your next chapter together — one that feels energising, aligned, and authentically you.

You’ve spent years leading others.
Now it’s time to lead yourself.

Free Download: Is It Time to Design Your Next Chapter?

Not quite ready for a call? Start with this self-check tool created for former education leaders considering a purposeful transition.

✅ Tick any statements that feel true right now
🧭 If you check three or more, it’s time to design your roadmap—today, not someday.

👉 Download your free copy here →
(PDF: “Is It Time to Design Your Next Chapter?” — includes reflection prompts + next steps)