The Gendered Heart of Leadership: Emotional Labour and the Well-Being of School Leaders

"School leadership is as much about relationships as it is about results. Every day, principals and assistant principals are called to support students, guide staff, and care for their wider school community. This “emotional labour” of leadership—the effort to manage one’s own emotions while supporting others—can be deeply rewarding, but also profoundly draining. This session draws on collaborative research between the University of Calgary, the University of Ottawa, and the Alberta Teachers’ Association, which asked school leaders to reflect on their experiences of emotional labour. What emerged were powerful stories of both resilience and cost. This session helps consider the following questions: Does gender shape how leaders experience and carry this labour? What toll does the constant demand for empathy and care take on leaders’ mental health? Participants will explore these questions, consider the hidden costs of emotional labour, and engage with strategies to protect and sustain their own mental and emotional well-being. By the end of the session, leaders will be better equipped to recognize the gendered dimensions of care, reduce unnecessary burdens, and build healthier, more sustainable leadership practices."