Becoming: Leadership Stories for the Middle
Aug 21, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min · 12 segments
In episode 3 of *Becoming*, I chat with Dr Paul Browning, a school principal of more than 25 years, author of *Compelling Leadership* and *Principled*, recipient of an Order of Australia Medal for…
Paul BrowningGuest
Benjamin PotterHost
I think, you know, knowing what you're doing with Vividus and knowing how your career and reading about it, you've always been someone who I suppose has been a change maker, if we can use that terminology.
How did you develop that? Was that just like a personality trait that you had that, like you said, you saw a need and you wanted to fix it? And I guess for some middle leaders, you know, we can at times go, "Oh, I see a need," or, "I can see something that maybe needs to be changed here." 'Cause I'm sure you've been on the other end of it, receiving it as a principal.
Is there a s- a way that you think to... is best to, like- ... produce that idea, to show that forward.
You know, if you come to with an idea in hand and say, "Hey, this is what I think we should do," is there a right way to go about doing that in a way that senior leadership is gonna be more open to?
You know, I've studied leadership, and I've practiced leadership for a long time.
Uh, and one of the questions in my mind has always been: Are you born a leader or can you develop the skill?
I think, you know, knowing what you're doing with Vividus and knowing how your career and reading about it, you've always been someone who I suppose has been a change maker, if we can use that terminology.
How did you develop that? Was that just like a personality trait that you had that, like you said, you saw a need and you wanted to fix it? And I guess for some middle leaders, you know, we can at times go, "Oh, I see a need," or, "I can see something that maybe needs to be changed here." 'Cause I'm sure you've been on the other end of it, receiving it as a principal.
Is there a s- a way that you think to... is best to, like- ... produce that idea, to show that forward.
You know, if you come to with an idea in hand and say, "Hey, this is what I think we should do," is there a right way to go about doing that in a way that senior leadership is gonna be more open to?
You know, I've studied leadership, and I've practiced leadership for a long time.
Uh, and one of the questions in my mind has always been: Are you born a leader or can you develop the skill?
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