Liminal leadership: building bridges across the chaos...because we're standing on the edge

Tierney is an experienced headteacher and CEO of a multi-academy trust in Blackpool. In his first book he reflects candidly on his own leadership experiences: on what has worked for him, but also on his own failings. He provides templates and frameworks for developing leadership teams and self-evaluation systems in schools. Aiming to empower current and prospective leaders, he interweaves personal anecdotes with professional insights.

Tierney advocates a leadership style of doing less, but doing it better and for greater impact. He emphasises the need to avoid short-term gains and look instead for long-term success by embedding sustainable improvements. 

Throughout the book he covers the different stages of his career, from newly-qualified teacher to CEO and executive headteacher, to finally chairing the Headteachers’ Roundtable, which has become an influential forum informing policy and practice in the profession.