Leadership (v): A Practice, Not a Position
Leadership is a practice—not a position. It shows up in how we exercise judgment, how we respond under pressure, and how we invite others into the work. More than charisma or authority, skilled leaders radiate clarity, courage, and the impulse to collaborate.
Too often, we define leadership narrowly as something reserved for roles at the top of the org chart. But in reality, leadership emerges whenever decisions are made, relationships are built, and people work together on something that matters. The most effective leaders I’ve worked with aren’t always the ones in charge. The most skilled leaders I know find ways to surface the thinking others might miss, challenge assumptions when it matters, and act (especially during challenges times) in ways that align with the culture they’re helping to shape. These leaders exist at every level of an organization, and a common denominator of their leadership is care for mission, purpose, and people. As Simon Sinek notes, leadership is not about being in charge, it’s about taking care of the people in your charge. That’s why school leadership on a small scale is often more impactful than school leadership on a large one: because it’s closer to the learning.
If you work in a learning community, you lead—whether you call it that or not. And building your leadership muscle is an ongoing, intentional process that centers around 3 core actions:
Model the culture you want to belong to. Every action teaches.
Invest your time and energy in what moves learning and people forward. Let go of what doesn’t.
Multiply the capacity of those around you. Real leaders make others better.
This kind of real, substantive leadership is a force that you practice, grow, and share. And since you’ve read this far, you’re likely already doing the work. Keep going; we need you.
