In "Leadership: Being, Knowing, Doing", Stephen Tierney builds his account of school leadership on practical wisdom and good judgement. The book has three parts: Ways of Being (being an authentic and ethical leader), Ways of Knowing (the role of knowledge and expertise) and Ways of Doing (the skills and strategies needed to lead and manage schools). Tierney illustrates each with examples from his own experience.
Favourite quote:
‘Phronesis is an Ancient Greek word for a type of wisdom associated with practical action. It is about good judgment and good character. At its core, it is about the ability to discern how best to act. Practical wisdom involves acting thoughtfully and virtuously and encouraging others to do the same. Virtue, thought and action, which coalesce in effective leadership, I have termed the Way of Being, Way of Knowing, and Way of Doing.’
The eight basics
On his own blog, Tierney describes the model as the three Ways plus eight "basics": purpose, introspection, specialism, strategy, implementation, networking, guardianship and expertise. Each basic has a pair of chapters: the first explores the underlying issues, the second gives an example from his own leadership.
Who it is for
Headteachers, trust leaders and aspiring senior leaders who want a reflective model of leadership built on judgement and character, with worked examples from a serving leader. It suits a leadership team or coaching conversation working through one basic at a time. It is not a manual for specific processes such as inspection, finance or HR.
About the book
- Author: Stephen Tierney, who blogs as @LeadingLearner; this is his third book, after Liminal Leadership and Educating with Purpose.
- Publisher: Hachette Learning (John Catt). Paperback, 13 December 2021, 240 pages.
- ISBN: 9781913622923.
Sources: Stephen Tierney's page on the book and Hachette Learning listing, checked 13 October 2026.