In this episode, Joshua and Angela explore the metaphor of the spiral staircase to rethink how we experience learning and leadership growth. Angela shares insights from her 15-year journey in primary education and leadership—culminating in her role as deputy head during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—and recounts a powerful mentoring anecdote that illustrates how reflection, perspective and implementation drive deeper progress each time we revisit familiar challenges.

⏱️ Timestamps & Highlights


00:00 – 02:00 | Welcome & Introductions
Joshua welcomes Angela, who outlines her 15-year teaching career, leadership roles (phase leader → assistant head → deputy head in 2019–20) and current work mentoring early-career teachers in Lambeth.


02:00 – 05:00 | The Spiral Staircase Metaphor


Linear vs circular views of learning


Spiral staircase: circling back at a higher vantage point


Relevance to life and leadership




05:00 – 14:00 | Core Components of Spiralling Learning


Reflection – Pausing to analyse experiences


Perspective – Adopting a growth-orientated, humble mindset


Implementation – Applying new insights to measure real progress




14:00 – 20:00 | Mentoring Anecdote: A Lesson in Humility
Angela recounts a meeting where she inadvertently spoke over an early-career teacher.


Initial shock, shame and self-doubt


Reflections on intentions versus impact


Perspective shift: modelling humility rather than stepping aside


Implementing new behaviours to rebuild trust


Outcome: a stronger mentorship relationship and broader leadership growth




20:00 – 24:00 | Fixed vs Growth Mindset & the Role of Humility
Joshua highlights how Angela’s story demonstrates:


Moving beyond “I’m just not cut out for this” to “How can I grow?”


Embracing mistakes as invitations to go deeper rather than failures to avoid




24:00 – 28:00 | Practical “Why” Questions for Leaders
Angela suggests reflective prompts to climb the spiral more intentionally:


“Why did this happen?”


“Why was I triggered?”


Exploring underlying beliefs and emotions for richer context


Measuring growth by comparing “what I know now” with “what I knew before”




28:00 – 30:00 | Closing Thoughts & Call to Action


“Learning isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s layering wisdom on wisdom.”


Lean into the spiral when you feel stuck.


Invite listeners to suggest future prompts via LinkedIn.





🎙️ Key Take-Aways


Spiral Staircase Metaphor:
Revisiting challenges isn’t regression—it’s elevation. Each return offers a new vantage for deeper learning.


Three Pillars of Spiralling Learning:


Reflection: Pause and analyse what happened and why.


Perspective: Adopt a growth mindset and humility.


Implementation: Apply new insights to gauge tangible progress.




Humility in Leadership:
True growth often involves confronting shame, reframing mistakes and modelling vulnerability.


Actionable Questions:
Use “why” prompts to uncover root causes and chart next steps:


Why did this happen?


Why did I respond this way?


What can I do differently next time?




Measure Your Growth:
Compare current capabilities with past ones: “What do I know or do now that I couldn’t before?”



🔗 Resources & Connect


Joshua Okunlola (Host):
LinkedIn


Angela Gaisie (Guest):
LinkedIn


Podcast Contact & Feedback:
Share episode prompts or reflections via LinkedIn message to Joshua or Angela.



Lead with curiosity. Embrace the spiral. Take it easy!

Ver todos los episodios