S5E3: Don't spend 2026 on autopilot

In this episode of the summer series, Jenny Cole encourages you to pause and ask: Am I leading and living with intention—or just reacting on autopilot? Designed for educators who feel stretched thin, this short but powerful reflection explores the cost of constantly running on default and offers practical ways to reset.

Jenny shares how to recognise the signs of survival mode, reconnect with your personal leadership intention, and build small habits that help you show up as your best self—more often. With thoughtful prompts and grounded strategies, this episode helps you shift from reactivity to purpose, even in the busiest seasons of school and life.

Did you know there is more? You can access every episode, show notes, links and more via my website Positively Beaming.

Transcript

Welcome back to Positively Leading: the podcast. I’m Jenny Cole—a leadership coach, former principal, and someone who knows how easy it is for educators to slide into “just get through the day” mode.

This summer series isn’t here to teach you anything new. It’s here to guide your reflection and help you set clear, gentle intentions for the year ahead. These episodes are short, perfect for listening while walking, driving, cooking—or even falling asleep (though I hope my voice doesn’t send you off too soon).

Today’s episode is all about intention. Not perfection. Not control. Just a grounded sense of who you are, and who you want to be—instead of reacting to everything around you.

If you’re listening in January or February, chances are the previous year is still lingering in your body. You might have raced toward Christmas, then eased into rest, and now you're winding back up for 2026. And if you’re listening later in the year, you might already be in full swing—and potentially already operating on autopilot.

Let’s talk about that.

If you’ve listened to the earlier episodes, you’ve reflected on what worked, your strengths, and your intentions. This episode is your reminder to check in and make sure you're not just running on default.

It’s impossible to be intentional all the time—our brains can’t sustain that level of cognitive effort. But when your workload is high and your emotional load is even higher, you default into survival mode. That’s the autopilot I’m talking about.

It looks like this:

• Saying yes because it’s quicker than saying no
• Solving problems as fast as possible
• Rushing from fire to fire
• Ending each day with a sigh, and little memory of conscious decision-making

Autopilot is survival. Intention is leadership.

Even if you’re not in a formal leadership role, if you’re a teacher—you’re leading. And you know what reactive teaching feels like: barking instructions, moving fast, keeping everyone going. And you also know what intentional teaching feels like: calm, clear, responsive.

So let’s come back to that idea of intention. Maybe you chose a word for the year—clarity, calm, courage, kindness. For me, the word is clear. Your leadership intention is your internal compass. It’s a phrase, a mantra, a gentle reminder that helps you reset and realign.

For example:

• I lead with clarity
• I create calm
• I take a breath before I react
• I listen first

When you’ve chosen your intention, it becomes easier to navigate tricky conversations, make decisions, and hold boundaries.

Let’s add another layer now: questions to keep you aligned with your intention. These are worth journaling or revisiting weekly:

1. Is this action moving me toward or away from the leader I want to be?
2. Am I acting from clarity and values, or from pressure?
3. Am I choosing this, or reacting to it?
4. Am I responding as my best self—or as an older, less grounded version of me?

These questions can interrupt autopilot and bring you back to centre.

But of course, things will derail us—both externally and internally.

External pressures in schools are obvious: not enough time, not enough staff, challenging student needs. But internal derailers can be just as powerful:

• Over-functioning: perfectionism, rescuing, doing too much
• Amygdala hijack: emotional overwhelm and poor decision-making
• Busyness as a badge of honour: measuring worth by how much we’re doing

When you notice these patterns, gently reset.

• Ask: Whose responsibility is this, really?
• Remind yourself: Busyness is not my value.
• Remove one task, lower your standards in one area, say no once, or distance yourself from one draining relationship.

Let’s embed a weekly ritual to stay on track. Here are four questions to ask yourself:

1. How do I want to show up this week?
2. What’s one behaviour that will help me do that?
3. Where might I be tested?
4. Where did I do well last week—and how can I celebrate that?

You might even choose a weekly word as a micro-intention. It could be: calm, clear, present, kind, courageous.

And remember—make it practical. Here are some examples of weekly intentions in action:

• I will respond slowly.
• I will protect my energy.
• I will not volunteer for things that aren’t mine to do.
• I will move my body every day.
• I will share lunch-making duties.

Bring your awareness back, even just briefly, to how you want to show up—and what you need to let go of to get there.

Because you can’t lead others if you’re not first leading yourself.

It’s easy to fall into old habits and reactive patterns. But self-leadership is about stepping back, breathing, and choosing your response. It’s not easy, but it gets easier with practice. And the best time to start is now—when things are calm, and the stakes are lower.

So—how do you want to show up this year?
How do you intend to do that?
And what small supports can you put in place to stay aligned?

Thank you for joining me in this summer series. These episodes aren’t about new theory or proving how much I know—they’re about helping you reconnect with what’s important, and giving you space to lead yourself well.

If you’re curious about what else I offer—coaching, online courses, or even just freebies—head to positivelybeaming.com.au
and click on the Work With Me page.

Take care, and I’ll talk to you again soon.