What's Unlocked

I love my job! I know I've said it before but I need to say it again. Being able to share my passion for all things leadership, and then through experiential learning help participants to also grow and develop their capacity to lead, is such a privilege. I am constantly being reminded of this. In big ways, small ways, and every way in between. Especially when we're so poetically reminded of why leadership's the vehicle, like what happened last week when a particular Year 6 student shared with such depth what leadership actually is.

"Your vehicle of leadership is fueled by your willingness to learn. You can't lead if you can't learn!" - Israelmore Ayivor

The picture above is a tweet from one of the Assistant Principals who was in the room for the workshop I was facilitating. Kip's (Year 6 participant) response really moved me and the group at the time of hearing it, but to then get home and see it had been shared more widely was such a joy. Opportunity is always there when we choose to view our interactions, challenges, complexities, etc. through a leadership lens. The key to unlocking what's in front of us is then our awareness and purposeful use of our own and others developing skills, attitudes and behaviours as we courageously strive to make a difference.

"True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed. Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection." - Sheryl Sandberg

We love this quote above. What's unlocked when we own our capacity to lead, and surround ourselves with others who are also courageously choosing to navigate life in this way, is change. Really importantly, change starts with us though. I say often to groups that one of the greatest gifts I've experienced throughout my learning and leadership journey is the wisdom to know that the more of me I be, the greater opportunities I'm presented with to create ripples that positively impact my own and others lives. But this more of me I be isn't a fixed, rigid or independent state. It feels to me more like evolving, unfolding, remembering, sharing, growing and developing.

"In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." - Abraham Maslow

Are we willing to embrace and stay with vulnerability long enough so we can experience further cracking open to let our individual and shared light out? None of us have all the answers, wisdom, or tools, we absolutely need each other. If we're interested in being change agents then interdependency is what a leader's thoughts, words, and actions really unlock. This is why the group I was facilitating for last week also really inspired me. We had student leaders and teachers/assistant principals in the room from 5 different school communities, who together know they can bring about, support and inspire more change together, than they can apart.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” - Warren Bennis