The concept of "portfolio people" was first popularized by Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in his interview published in "The Times." The archbishop drew attention to a social trend which has seen the breakdown of classical patterns of employment and the concept of "a job for life" and its replacement by a growth in short-term jobs and achievements in what he called "a portfolio approach to identity." There are resonances in this with some research into the sustainability strategies of headteachers. A study carried out by the author himself examined how the successful head, by providing calm and focused leadership for the school when faced with critical incidents and relentless day-to-day pressures, acts as the "external reservoir of hope" for the institution. Hope is what drives the school forward towards delivering its vision and values in the face of pressures. Drawing from the findings of several research, the author suggests several practices for headteacher support.