 There’s a story that many of us have been told - that to lead well, we need to be invincible. Always composed. Always producing. Always strong. But what if that story no longer serves us? What if leadership, especially in the midst our current multiple crises, is inviting us to be more human—not less?
This question lives at the heart of my new book Leading Through Fire: Resilient Leadership for People, Planet and the Future, where I explore how we can lead through challenge and change with more honesty, connection, and care. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about staying real and staying rooted. Why Old Models of Leadership Are Ready to Evolve In Chapter Two of the book, I wrote: "In times of great transition, the most powerful leadership comes not from control, but from connection." That quote has become an anchor for me. It reminds me that while pressure and complexity may be rising, we don’t have to harden in response. We can become more receptive—without losing our strength. We can stay open—and still lead with clarity. The world is shifting. And our teams, our communities, and our planet are asking us to show up with more authenticity. While I was writing the book, I looked at peer reviewed research from all sorts of disciplines. One study found that leaders who cultivate emotional intelligence, purpose-alignment, and systemic awareness are not only more resilient—they also lead more innovative, connected teams. Returning to Ourselves as Leaders So what does it look like to lead as a full human being? It means noticing when we’re stretched too thin—and choosing to pause instead of push. It means staying curious when things feel uncertain. It means bringing our values into the room with us, not just our titles. Slowing down has helped me hear my own wisdom more clearly. A walk in the garden. A moment of breath before a hard conversation. A genuine check-in with my team. These small shifts reconnect us to what matters. Five Gentle Practices to Lead with More Humanity Here are five everyday practices that can help you lead from a place of wholeness and warmth:
Let’s be honest: leadership isn’t always easy. Especially in times like these. But your leadership is more important than ever. And that can bring out the best in us. We don't need to be perfect. We need to be human. We need to stay connected—to ourselves, to each other, and to what really matters. If this resonates, I invite you to stay close. Join the waitlist for the release of Leading Through Fire. Let’s lead with heart. Let’s lead with courage. Let’s lead like we’re still becoming—because we are.  In the world of sustainable business, we often talk about consumption—especially the relentless pressure to extract more from the Earth. But lately, I’ve been thinking about a different kind of consumption. A quieter one. The kind that happens when I pick up my phone to check something and find myself, an hour later, deep in a reel spiral of rescue dogs and dry humor (my personal weakness).
In the moments when I feel tired or overwhelmed—or when the world feels especially heavy—it’s easy to numb out. It’s human. And honestly, a little distraction is fine. But I’ve started noticing how consuming media has become my go-to coping mechanism. Not just once in a while, but often. And it never really fills the well. One night, I looked up and realized I’d been scrolling for over an hour. I wasn’t more rested or connected. I felt hazy. Distant. Like I’d poured my attention into something that gave nothing back. So I put the phone down. I lit a candle. I wrote a page in my journal. That small act of creation shifted something. I felt myself again. We consume endlessly—news, videos, updates, outrage, opinions. We become part of the dopamine economy, constantly chasing the next little hit. We feed the hungry ghost. But here’s the thing: The world doesn’t need more scrolling. It needs more creating. It needs our energy. Our vision. Our joy. Our imagination. Let’s write. Let’s cook. Let’s grow food, make music, paint, dance, build businesses, spark ideas. Let’s bring new things into the world that are rooted in beauty, community, resilience, and love. Let’s remember that we are creators. And for those of us in leadership, let’s also remember this: our attention is a resource. Where we put it matters. What we give our energy to shapes our teams, our culture, our impact. The more we invest in creativity, the more we can show up clear-eyed, grounded, and awake to what’s possible. The research backs this up. Studies from the NIH and elsewhere show that creativity makes us happier, less stressed, and more able to navigate complexity. It helps us think more flexibly and live with greater purpose. It reconnects us with what’s real. And especially in hard times—when the world feels chaotic, or when we’re carrying personal grief or burnout--creating can be healing. It’s a way to move what’s stuck. To express what can’t always be said. To remember we still have agency, even when so much feels out of our control. Creativity doesn’t erase the pain, but it transforms it. It reminds us we’re still here, still human, still capable of beauty. So if you’re feeling tired, disconnected, or overwhelmed: Plant something. Take a walk without your phone. Journal. Play music and move your body. Make soup from scratch. Write a single sentence. Create something—anything—that reminds you what it feels like to be alive. This isn’t just about wellness. It’s about regeneration. A return to what nourishes. A restoration of our spirit, our attention, our creative spark. A reminder that we are not here just to consume—we are here to contribute, to shape, to create. You are not a gadget. You are a creator. Let’s reclaim our time. Let’s reclaim our joy. Let’s reclaim our imagination. The world needs it. The world needs you. Reading How to Start Creating When you Don’t Know How to Start https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rethinking-mental-health/202104/how-start-creating-when-you-dont-know-how-start Cultivating Five Kinds of Creativity: https://hbr.org/2023/01/cultivating-the-four-kinds-of-creativity Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Now by Jaron Lanier: https://community.thriveglobal.com/four-arguments-for-deleting-your-social-media-accounts/ Sound Track Sound and Vision – David Bowie Imagine – John Lennon Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan If this resonated with you, I’d love to stay connected. Subscribe to my email list to receive reflections like this—along with notes on leadership, regeneration, creativity, and purpose—delivered straight to your inbox. Let’s keep creating a better world, together.  “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World I love watching Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream Speech. I watch it each Martin Luther King Day. There’s a reason why the speech is considered one of the best of all time in American History. The words speak to my heart. They remind me of the work that we still need to do together to build a more equitable world. When I listen, I feel stirred in my soul to make things better for my human siblings, my family, my friends and future generations I will never meet. This year, I listened to the speech like every other year. Then, within hours, the programs to open the doors of opportunity for all Americans were purged from the US Government. Many companies sadly followed suit. Let’s be clear – this was an attempt to pull us from the sunlit path. Personally, though, it only makes me more committed to lift our nation to the “solid rock of brotherhood.” I shall not be moved. In the face of this rhetoric, I reminded myself that a more equitable, sustainable world begins with me. I sat down and made a list of my own personal diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging commitments. I encourage you, as a leader, to make a similar list. Here's mine:
What are your personal diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging commitments? Write them down. Share them. Put them somewhere prominent to remind you of your role in the world as a leader of yourself and others. Dr. King taught us that love builds a better world. If the antidote to hate is love, Then let's love even more. Let’s light up that sunlit path with so much love that it can be seen from space. And Mars. And the Delta Quadrant. Let’s make love our compass. More Reading Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream Speech What’s Up with White Women: Unpacking Feminism and White Privilege in Pursuit of Racial Justice by Ilsa Govan and Tilman Smith Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love, and So Much More by Janet Mock Everyday Unbuntu: Living Together the African Way by Mungi Ngomane And a Soundtrack Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love Brown Skin Girl – Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyonce, Wizkid One Love / People Get Ready – Bob Marley I love to write and share my passion for sustainable leadership. Download your copy of my Purpose Power Worksheet, which is designed to connect you with your own unique purpose. Or subscribe to get this delivered straight into your inbox! |
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