Step 4: Turning Processes into Teaching Habits — Educational Leadership Podcast with Ross McGill

In this episode of The No Silver Bullets Podcast — a leading school leadership podcast for executive heads, trust leaders and coaches — Paul Ainsworth is joined by Ross McGill, globally known as Teacher Toolkit, one of the most influential educators in the UK and author of 13 books on teaching and learning. Following last week’s conversation with Donna Winters on unleashing leadership capacity, this episode dives into Step 4 of the Nine Steps to Executive Headship: Turning Processes into Habits — and Ross brings a masterclass in how schools can embed routines that genuinely improve teaching and learning. If you’re searching for an educational leadership podcast or a leadership podcast for coaches, this conversation is packed with practical insight. Ross shares:Why habits matter more than policiesHow to simplify Rosenshine’s 17 principles into four memorable habitsThe difference between consistency and coherenceHow executive leaders can use the macro–meso–micro model to influence practice across multiple schoolsWhy implementation takes “18 months to four years” — and how to plan for itHis powerful “upside‑down staircase” model for embedding routinesThe unforgettable “weighing the pig vs growing the pig” analogy that every leader should hear This is a rich, practical conversation for executive heads, trust leaders and anyone responsible for improving teaching and learning at scale — and a standout episode for anyone looking for a high‑quality leadership podcast. 🎧 Listen now to learn how to turn processes into habits that stick. About the SeriesThis episode is part of the Nine Steps to Executive Headship series, supporting Paul’s forthcoming book:📘 Nine Steps to Executive Headship, published by Routledge in Autumn 2026.ConnectFollow Paul on LinkedIn: Paul K Ainsworth https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-k-ainsworth-20b0a41a/Read the companion blog: Blog – Day in, day out, school improvement.Explore Ross’s work: Teacher Toolkit https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/Read Ross’s books: https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/books/