21: Building Collective Efficacy: How Educational Leaders Create Collaborative School Cultures
What happens when professional learning communities feel more like compliance than collaboration? In this episode of System Shift, we explore the research behind collective efficacy—the belief that when educators work together, they will make a difference—and how it transforms teaching, learning, and school culture.
Join Drs. Mary Beth, Gail, and Leesa as they unpack how to turn teamwork into true collaboration, build trust among staff, and create the conditions for learning that elevate every student’s success.
In This Episode:
- What John Hattie’s research reveals about collective efficacy
- The difference between collaboration, compliance, and coordination
- How leaders can foster shared purpose and “we” language across teams
- Practical strategies to build relational trust and collective responsibility
- Real examples of districts transforming culture through authentic collaboration
Key Takeaway:
Collective efficacy isn’t built through meetings or mandates—it’s cultivated through purpose, trust, and shared accountability. When educators believe together that they can make a difference, they do.