Stop Holding the Match: How Real Leadership Ignites Innovation

Stop Holding the Match: How Real Leadership Ignites Innovation

The biggest threat to innovation isn’t resistance—it’s leadership hoarding the spark.

Every school has people quietly sitting on ideas that could change everything.
They’re the ones rethinking how team meetings run, imagining smoother arrival routines, or asking, “What if we tried it differently?”

These aren’t just ideas. They’re sparks.
And as leaders, our job isn’t to control the fire—it’s to fan the flames.

Spot the Spark

Innovation starts at the top—but it should never stop there.

We may light the first match, but sustainable, culture-shifting innovation happens when others feel empowered to carry the torch. That means noticing the quiet instigators—those experimenting behind the scenes, questioning routines, or simply expressing curiosity. When we pause and say, “Tell me more,” we turn hidden potential into collective momentum.

From Missed Time to a Movement

When I first became principal, I discovered something shocking:
There was no real professional development plan for staff.

During the mandated weekly PD block, teachers were either watching isolated recordings on the InfoHub that had no relevance to their practice—or decorating bulletin boards. Neither activity supported growth. Neither improved student outcomes. Neither honored the brilliance sitting in the building.

I knew that had to change.

I immediately began designing and facilitating meaningful, purposeful PD sessions. These weren’t just content-focused—they modeled how professional learning could look and feel when it's done with intention.

As I facilitated, I kept my eye out for sparks. I noticed teachers who were engaged, curious, asking questions. I offered support, encouragement, and hand-holding where needed—and invited a small group to join me in an inquiry-based action research cycle with their students.

Fast forward:
Those teachers became the ones leading PD.
They’re now proposing new practices, experimenting in their classrooms, and mentoring their peers.
And that culture spread.

Soon, more staff began raising their voices, trying new approaches, and supporting each other through failure and success. It didn’t happen overnight—but it started with one match and a willingness to pass it around.

Legacy Thinking, Not Control

I’ve always believed a true leader begins building their succession plan—even if they’re not planning to leave. That’s not about detachment. That’s legacy thinking.

If everything falls apart the moment you step away, was it leadership—or was it control?

Leadership is about building something that can outlast you. That means giving away the spotlight, sharing decision-making power, and trusting others to lead. It’s about creating a team that feels safe enough—and inspired enough—to take risks, speak up, and push boundaries.

Let It Catch Fire

Here’s the beautiful thing: when people feel empowered, innovation spreads like wildfire.

One bold question leads to another. One empowered teacher uplifts the next. Before long, creativity and ownership become part of the culture—not just top-down initiatives.

So ask yourself:

What if your job isn’t just to innovate… but to ignite others to do it too?

Passing the Match

Somewhere in your building, someone is sitting on an idea that could shift the way your school works.

They may not have a title. They may not speak up in every meeting. But they’re watching. Thinking. Imagining. Waiting for someone to notice.

And maybe all it takes is a simple question: “Tell me more.”

That’s how it starts. Not with a grand rollout or a top-down mandate—but with a moment of trust. A spark passed from one hand to another.

Because leadership isn’t about holding the match.
It’s about knowing when—and to whom—you need to hand it off.

The fire won’t start itself. Look around. Find the spark. And pass the match.

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