The Voice of Early Childhood7 Apr 2025

What is accidental leadership?

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop:

Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees.

To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home

In this episode:

This podcast episode is for leaders in any industry, with valuable reflections to take away around your own and the leadership of others. In this episode we discuss accidental leadership from an educational perspective.

You start as a talented practitioner; amazing with the children, knowledgeable and caring, and you build strong relationships with staff and families. Your potential does not go unnoticed and before you know it, you are promoted into a leadership role.

A familiar, almost expected pathway, one that many have trodden before.

This article and podcast episode explores the impact of 'accidental leadership' in settings, and the need, now more than ever, to shift to intentional leadership.

Read Jenny's article and inquire regarding Jenny's work here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/accidental-leadership-in-early-years/

Share your voice:

Do you have a topic or guest you would like to hear on the podcast? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome!
02:00 – What is accidental leadership?
06:00 – How do you lead if you have never been prepared?
13:50 – Your identity as a leader
22:45 – First steps in preparing a leader
29:00 – Drawing on the talents of those around you
32:20 – The importance of delegation
37:30 – Figuring out priorities
41:00 – The process is where the learning happens
43:00 – Shared reflection and dialogue
44:45 –Intentional leadership book coming soon!
47:00 – Inquire on working with Jenny
48:00 – Further reading and listening on this topic

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

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