Anju Bhatia leads with calm attention, replacing reaction with reflection.
About the School and Anju Bhatia ji
MCD Primary School, Ramesh Nagar, serves 223 students and is supported by eight teachers. Anju Bhatia has led the school for three years and has been a PLDP facilitator for over two.
As she approaches retirement, she reflects candidly on her own evolution. Before PLDP, she admits she often reacted quickly and formed judgments without fully understanding situations. Leadership was structured and efficient, but not always reflective.
The shift began when she entered a space where she herself was invited to listen.
The Inner Shift
“Earlier, I reacted quickly. Through PLDP, I learned to listen without judgment. When I changed my mindset, my school changed with me.” — Anju Bhatia
Through PLDP and its cluster sessions, Anju ji experienced something she now recreates for her staff: a safe space.
In cluster meetings, principals openly shared challenges. Hearing others’ contexts widened her perspective. She began to recognise how quickly she interpreted situations in her own school.
She shares a simple example. Earlier, if a teacher arrived late, she might have responded immediately. Now, she asks first. She listens without judgment. She seeks the full story before deciding.
This shift from reaction to curiosity changed the emotional climate of her school. She describes herself as calmer, more flexible, and more trusting.
Building Trust Through Presence
Trust in her school is intentional.
Feedback is given privately. Appreciation is shared publicly. Decisions are taken consultatively, often including teachers, students, and SMC members.
Teachers frequently resolve concerns among themselves before escalating them. This independence, she believes, grows only in an atmosphere free of fear.
Listening created that atmosphere.
Learnings from the Principal Community
Cluster sessions further deepened her reflective practice. Engaging with other principals, receiving feedback, and visiting different schools expanded her lens. She now actively works on feedback she receives, modelling the openness she expects from her staff.
Inner Leadership in Action
Students affectionately call her “Badi Ma’am.” They describe her as kind and cheerful. The school culture mirrors her philosophy: peer learning groups, collaborative assemblies, active SMC engagement, and learning spaces enriched by nature.
She believes true change begins with mindset. When leaders shift from judgment to listening, schools shift from compliance to comfort.
For Anju Bhatia, listening became leadership.