Greg Lacey (School Principal) on Educational Leadership

Flourishing Unfiltered: Tackling Loneliness, Self-Doubt, and Overwhelm in Business

🎙️ In today's episode of Flourishing Unfiltered, we speak with Greg Lacey!
Greg is a retired school principal with an impressive 24-year career in education and leadership.
He spent ten years as the Principal at Tyabb Primary School before moving on to Lyndhurst Primary School, where his leadership and commitment to fostering a positive school culture have left a lasting impact. His extensive experience extends beyond individual schools, as he has also contributed significantly at the network level, shaping educational practices across the region.
In addition to his professional achievements, Greg is an accredited Executive Coach with Growth Coaching International. His passion for leadership excellence is evident in his most recent role as Principal in Residence for Leadership Excellence, where he continues to mentor and guide the next generation of educational leaders.
Greg's influence reaches beyond the schoolyard. He serves as a State Councillor for the Victorian Principals Association, advocating for principals and ensuring their voices are heard in shaping educational policy.
He is also a dedicated Board Member for Menzies Inc., a not-for-profit organisation that provides residential care and therapeutic programs for young people in need and at risk on the Mornington Peninsula. As Vice President of the Committee of Management for Menzies Caring for Kids, Greg plays a crucial role in supporting the organisation's mission to deliver quality care and support to vulnerable children and youth—a tradition that has been upheld for 147 years.
👉 Greg shares his profound passion for working with youth and his commitment to helping them develop into well-rounded individuals. He opens up about his journey from a classroom teacher to becoming a principal, driven by a clear moral purpose and a desire to make a lasting impact on students' lives.
Throughout the episode, Greg reflects on the challenges he encountered as a school principal, including navigating difficult conversations with parents and the complexities of building and maintaining a positive school culture. He stresses the importance of self-leadership, highlighting how having a clear moral compass guided his decisions and actions throughout his career.
One of Greg's key messages is the crucial role of building a strong, positive culture within an organisation. He shares his experience at Lindhurst Primary School, where the environment he cultivated led to only four people leaving in the first five years, with two of them eventually returning. Greg underscores that attracting great people and creating a work environment where they can thrive is essential for the success of any organisation.
Authenticity, according to Greg, is at the heart of effective leadership. He emphasises that leaders should lead according to their own personality, embracing vulnerability and striving for continuous improvement. He also touches on the importance of living the values of the organisation, with respect and integrity being fundamental in fostering a thriving culture.
Finally, Greg discusses the significance of creating a psychologically safe environment, where individuals feel empowered to show up as their authentic selves. This, he believes, is key to not only leading successfully but also ensuring that everyone in the organisation can flourish.
🪴 Proudly sponsored by The Future of Flourishing: https://www.futureofflourishing.com/
🫶🏼 With kind support from PositivePsychology.com: https://positivepsychology.com/
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FIND OUT MORE about Greg Lacey
🔗 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-lacey-a3344b33/
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