Teachers' Standards

Leading With Impact: Communication Styles That Drive Change and Build Trust

Are your words building trust or just delivering instructions? In today’s schools, leadership isn’t just about making decisions – it’s about inspiring people through how you communicate. Leading With Impact: Communication Styles That Drive Change and Build Trust is a practical, research-informed course designed for headteachers, senior leaders and subject leaders who want to lead with clarity, empathy and influence. Written by Yiotina Achilleos-Dania, in collaboration with Carly Watkins, and presented by Ruth Wallwork, this course explores how to adapt your style under pressure, use emotionally intelligent language and create a culture where every conversation strengthens collaboration and drives improvement.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania,
Carly Watkins &
Ruth Wallwork

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will: 

understand the theory and evidence behind impactful leadership communication and why it matters;
identify your own communication style and learn how to adapt it to build trust, influence change and support a positive team culture;
apply practical, research-informed strategies – such as coaching questions, assertive language and inclusive recognition – to everyday leadership situations;
develop emotionally intelligent responses under pressure that foster calm, collaboration and psychological safety;
measure the impact of your communication choices using feedback, reflection and indicators of pupil and staff outcomes.

Course Lessons

Written by: Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

Yiotina has spent over a decade immersed in the world of primary education. Most of her teaching career, she juggled the roles of Science and Maths subject leader. Armed with degrees in Marketing Communications, Business Analysis and Education (plus a National Qualification of Middle Leadership), she’s been at the forefront of introducing new initiatives, reshaping curricula and championing practical, hands-on learning to ensure every pupil thrives.
From training staff to supporting long-term skill progression, Yiotina has always been passionate about helping both pupils and teachers grow. Now, as a CPD Content Writer and Editor at Twinkl, she’s swapped the classroom for the creative space of professional development, using her expertise to craft engaging, impactful resources that continue to support educators and learners – just this time, it’s done from behind the scenes!

In collaboration with: Carly Watkins

Carly is the Quality of Education Lead at Twinkl PD, overseeing the development of Teachers' Standards courses. She is an experienced primary school teacher and senior leader with a MA in Education Practice and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Carly also facilitates the ECF, delivering training for current mentors and ECTs; she is passionate about accessible and actionable professional development for all educators at all levels.

Presented by: Ruth Wallwork

Ruth is a Video Content Creator on the CPD team at Twinkl. She is an experienced primary teacher, having taught across both key stage one and key stage two. Ruth has worked as part of a music partnership, delivering high quality music lessons in a range of educational settings, including SEND and secondary schools. Ruth has also held leadership roles, including Head of Primary Music. She holds a degree in Music and Musical Theatre, a PGCE in Primary Education and is currently working towards a qualification in Primary Music Leadership.