Ex-Army OBE Neil Jurd:

Kendal, Cumbria – As UK schools grapple with a deepening leadership crisis—86% of senior staff reporting stress and burnout (Education Support Index)—former British Army officer Neil Jurd OBE is offering a simple antidote: "Pause & Allow."

In his TEDx talk at Royal Russell School, Croydon, Jurd argues great leaders don't control more—they step back. "Under pressure, most tighten up," he says. "But pausing to think, recover, and let others shine builds real resilience. It creates the space for change.  I learned this under pressure on military operations and it applies in any line of work''.  

Jurd's bestselling book The Leadership Book and LeaderConnect online platform (leader-connect.co.uk) deliver exactly that: bite-sized videos, podcasts, and courses on mental resilience, team morale, and leading without burnout. Schools like Dallam School in Cumbria (21 leaders trained), Abingdon Learning Trust (40 subscribers)  and teams from the University of Sheffield (50 users) are already using it—praising the flexible, no-fluff access. "Thoroughly enjoyable, full of great content," said a Sheffield delegate.

With face-to-face workshops and discounted subs for trusts, Jurd's making high-impact training affordable. "Teachers aren't weak—they're overloaded," he adds. "A quick pause changes everything."

Neil Jurd's background: Sandhurst instructor, QOGLR squadron commander in Iraq (injured on ops), OBE for youth leadership, school governor (Windermere), TEDx speaker, podcast regular.

For interviews, demos, or free trial access: 

Neil Jurd OBE neil@leader-connect.co.uk +44 7880980203

About LeaderConnect Founded by Neil Jurd OBE, LeaderConnect offers practical leadership tools—online platform, book, workshops—for busy educators and managers. 

Turn potential into performance, minus the exhaustion.