Episode 260: Forward Together with George Couros - Leadership, Community, and Learning in Contentious Times

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, I’m joined by George Couros, one of the most influential voices in education around innovation, culture, and human-centered leadership.

George and I dig into his leadership journey — not from a place of “having it all figured out,” but from a place of learning out loud. We talk about how blogging helped him find his voice, not just share it, and why writing, reflection, and vulnerability matter more than ever for leaders.

We also explore the ideas behind George’s newest book, Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times, including:

1. Why trying to “win” arguments often pushes people further away
2. The reality that somebody hates you — and why that shouldn’t drive your leadership
3. The balance between comfort and challenge in professional learning (the “warm bath / cold shower”)
4. How leaders can move communities forward during polarized, emotionally charged times

We close with a powerful reflection on leadership and self-care, as George shares how prioritizing his health has changed not only how he leads — but how he models leadership for his own kids.

This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation about what leadership really looks like right now.

You can learn more about George at his website

Grab his new book on Amazon

Here is the link to the blogpost I referenced in the show

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.