Leadership is a term used widely and in a variety of spaces. Often it is used imprecisely and is reduced to position, personality, or a set of isolated competencies. Peter Northouse (2022), author of Leadership, provides an important background to understanding how leadership has evolved over the years. In addition to shifts in the concrete definition of leadership, changes also occurred to who possessed leadership qualities. In the early 1900’s, leadership was attributed to certain traits that a person, typically male, was either born with or not. Over time, leadership progressed as a process that involves specific behaviors, thus attainable and accessible by a variety of people. 

This week starts a four week article series titled, Leading in the Grey. Each week I will feature a new article and the podcast in the launch of this exciting series.

Does leadership feel uncertain? Is leadership different from what you expected? Have you been thrown curveballs, twists and turns? Are you a veteran leader looking to be fed, encouraged, and nourished in the midst of significant change? No matter where you are in your leadership journey, this series is for you!

I invite you to begin here! Listen to the Leading in the Grey podcast here: https://www.pebc.org/podcast/leading-in-the-grey-exploring-the-importance-of-adaptive-leadership-with-dr-ashlee-saddler/

Leadership today is not for the faint of heart. It is even more challenging for those who are unclear or insecure in their purpose. Are you clear on your purpose? In the midst of internal and external change, one of the most important questions leaders can ask is whether their sense of purpose is shifting and what that shift may be calling them toward. Is your sense of purpose evolving?

Across sectors, and especially in education, leaders are navigating unprecedented complexity. Thoughtful leaders are balancing an overwhelming sense of urgency to make decisions while trying to maintain humanity in the work. As a thoughtful leader there is the recognition that the system is imperfect and demanding, yet they still maintain a deeply human approach.