
Inspired by Others
People often assume that because I work in early years, all my ideas about leadership must come neatly packaged from inside the sector. Truth is, they mostly don’t. I’ve picked up far more about leading people by looking everywhere else.
A lot of these insights come from my partner, who’s a HR Director. Our most productive “leadership summits” generally happen over a bottle of bubbly and a spread of takeaways, not exactly a corporate workshop, but probably more honest. He’s worked across retail, travel, hospitality, automotive, and the charity sector, so there’s always something different to chat about on a Friday (besides how greasy the prawn crackers are).
One idea I love comes from a well-known supermarket chain. They have what they call a “daily rumble.” At a set time every day, managers leave their desks and join staff on the shop floor. The offices are left empty. Everyone’s serving customers side by side, seeing exactly what their teams see. It’s not just about pitching in. It's about staying connected and building trust. I often see nurseries where leadership staff have lost connection with whats happening and have become office bound and drowning in nursery funding claims.
Another gem is “walking supervisions.” Instead of trying to cram 1:1’s into tiny office slots between nappy changes and snack prep, we head outside. Armed with just a notebook and pen, we talk as we walk. Somehow, people are more open and thoughtful away from the nursery walls. It’s simple, costs nothing, and has transformed the quality of conversations.
I even once took my leadership team to The Ivy. Not for a fancy knees-up (though the chips were great) but to watch how world-class customer service is done. I asked them to really soak it in: who greeted them, how did it feel, what little touches stood out? We left buzzing with ideas about how to make our own environments more welcoming, more special.
I’ve always admired leaders like Richard Branson, who builds cultures on trust and enthusiasm rather than tight control. Or Walt Disney, who was never afraid to test something new, fail fast, and try again. That’s the sort of spirit I want to bring to my own work.
Because let’s be honest: early years doesn’t have all the answers for early years. Sometimes sticking to “the way we’ve always done it” is exactly why we don’t grow. Looking beyond our sector gives us new ways to tackle problems, motivate teams, and build places people love working in.
Leadership’s never a neat path. It’s usually a messy journey of mistakes, awkward questions, and constant learning. Staying curious about what other people do in completely different worlds keeps us fresh. And frankly, it makes the ride a lot more interesting.
Top tips for stealing ideas from other sectors
Get out of your bubble. Read business stories, watch how staff work in other industries, talk to leaders outside your field.
Pinch and adapt. It doesn’t have to fit exactly. Adjust great ideas so they work for your team.
Bring experiences back. Visit somewhere known for service (like a top restaurant or shop). Ask your team what they notice — and how you could use it.
Keep it human. Leadership is about people, not spreadsheets. The best ideas often come from simply talking and listening.
Stay playful. Try things. Some will flop, but you’ll learn way more than by playing it safe.
Closing thought
I’m lucky that in my current role, I’ve got the creative freedom to try. I’ve learned more here than I ever expected and not just about leading teams, but about myself. I’ve developed skills I didn’t even know I had. And that’s the real beauty of looking outside our own walls, it doesn’t just grow the people around us, it grows us too.
“Who knew? Stealing ideas, making mistakes, and winging it a bit, turns out that’s where the best leadership magic (and a fair few laugh out loud moments) really happen.”
