Will This Make the Boat Go Faster?
Written by Andrew Murray, former Principal and Director, Lumina Consulting
Most mornings, I swim. It’s not about breaking records—it’s about finding rhythm and clarity before the day takes hold. In the water, everything is immediate: the way you breathe, move, and focus determines how efficiently you move forward. When something’s off, you feel it. That’s when a simple but powerful question surfaces: Is this helping me move forward—or just keeping me afloat?
It’s the same question Sir Peter Blake asked Team New Zealand before every decision on their America’s Cup campaign: Will this make the boat go faster?
It wasn’t just a motivational line—it was a framework. A way of cutting through clutter, habits, and distractions. In schools, where the pace is relentless and the demands complex, it’s a question more of us need to ask.
In education, performance is often tied to academic outcomes, compliance, and efficiency. But in reality, high performance in schools isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, together.
We need to shift our thinking from short-term output to long-term sustainability. That means aligning our calendars, conversations, and culture with our values. And that’s where wellbeing comes in—not as an “add-on,” but as the environment that makes good work possible.
Because if what you’re doing—whether it’s a meeting, a habit, or a policy—isn’t helping people flourish, why are you still doing it?
When teachers and leaders are under pressure, it’s tempting to reach for easy fixes: a wellbeing initiative, a new app, or a Friday lunchtime yoga session. These things aren’t bad—but if they’re layered on top of a culture that’s overwhelmed or misaligned, they won’t shift the system.
In sport, athletes often reach for new gear when something’s off. But the issue is rarely the shoes—it’s often mindset, technique, or the story they’re telling themselves about what they can and can’t do.
In schools, we can be guilty of the same pattern. We tweak the tools, but don’t interrogate the assumptions. We adjust the sails, but forget to check whether we’re all rowing in the same direction.
Under pressure, we don’t rise to our goals—we fall to our habits. That’s why leadership and wellbeing are deeply connected.
The question isn’t what do we believe about wellbeing?—it’s what do we practise? What are we reinforcing in the way we manage time, respond to stress, or support others?
Leaders set the cultural temperature. If you’re rushing from one thing to the next, holding everything together without space to reflect, your team will follow. If you model calm, boundaries, curiosity—your culture will slowly shift in that direction.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing—Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Be Aware, and Help Others—offer a brilliant framework for schools. Not just for students, but for staff too.
Connect: Prioritise meaningful relationships—not just with students, but between colleagues.
Be Active: Create time in the day for movement and fresh air, even in simple ways like walking meetings.
Keep Learning: Cultivate a growth mindset that celebrates reflection, not just performance.
Be Aware: Slow down enough to notice what’s working—and what’s wearing people down.
Help Others: Recognise and celebrate contribution. Notice who’s always supporting others and acknowledge them.
These aren’t just wellbeing strategies—they’re cultural shifts that build trust and resilience.
Here’s the paradox. Sometimes, making the boat go faster means “rowing” less. Taking something off the calendar. Letting go of a task that no longer aligns with your purpose. Saying no to what’s urgent so you can say yes to what matters.
That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.
In school leadership, we often equate movement with momentum. But sustainable leadership requires reflection, pruning, and the courage to stop, reset, and realign.
Leadership isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things, in the right way, with the right people around you.
So here’s the challenge: take a look at your habits, your leadership style, and your team culture. Ask yourself: Will this make the boat go faster? Or is it just keeping you afloat?
If you’re ready to explore the concept of flourishing—for yourself, your team, or your school—I’d love you to join me at the Wellbeing for Future Focused Schools Conference. I’ll be sharing practical tools and reflections to help you lead with intention, protect your energy, and create a workplace where people feel safe to thrive.
Please feel free to send me a message—I'd love to have a chat with you.
📍 Brisbane: 31 July - 1 August 2025 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
📍 Melbourne: 28 - 29 August 2025 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre