Mattering - The Future of Early Childhood Leadership
The future of our field won’t be shaped by compliance or convenience — it will be shaped by connection.
We are moving into a time when emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and authentic belonging are no longer optional for leadership; they are the foundation of impact.
Mattering bridges all three.
It creates cultures where:
Staff wellbeing and child outcomes rise together.
Leaders make decisions guided by empathy and ethics.
Teams hold one another accountable through trust, not fear.
When people feel they matter, they bring their best energy, creativity, and heart to the work — and that’s what the future of early childhood education demands.
And yes, I know you are already doing many of the suggested strategies when you can. I’m challenging you to embed it into the very fabric of your program.
Sustaining Mattering Through Daily Leadership Habits
To keep mattering alive:
Pause before every meeting and ask: “Who needs to feel seen today?”
Link every success back to people, not just results.
Use relational rituals — gratitude rounds, affirmations, reflection cards — to keep mattering visible.
Audit systems regularly: “Where might people feel unseen, unheard, or unnecessary — and what can we change?”
These are not extra tasks — they’re cultural habits. The habits that quietly transform workplaces into communities.
The Legacy of Mattering
Mattering leaves a legacy that no initiative ever could because people don’t remember every training or policy. They remember how they felt in your presence — whether they felt seen, valued, and needed.
That’s what lasts. That’s what ripples forward — into classrooms, into families, into children’s lives.
When we build cultures of mattering, we’re not just shaping better programs. We’re shaping better humans — ones who know how to lead with compassion, courage, and community.
Closing Note: From Mattering to Movement
This concludes the Mattering in Early Childhood Education series — but it’s also the beginning of something larger: a movement toward cultures of care, courage, and connection in our field.
When we build environments where everyone matters, we create programs that last — and a profession that heals.
And to support you in your efforts, I’d like to give you a holiday gift. Download The Mattering Toolkit and let the Mattering begin!!
Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Deidre