Here’s why:

You’re leading differently—in a world built for something else. I call this choice, this path, this conviction—The Quiet Revolution. It’s for those of us who refuse to lead by outdated rules, even when the system pushes back.

If that sounds like you, this manifesto is for you.

The Quiet Revolution

A Manifesto for Those of Us Who Lead Differently

You’ve never been one to follow the easy path.

You don’t lead for titles, control, or applause.

You lead because you care too much not to.

In a world that rewards burnout, compliance, and ego-driven authority,

you choose something different.

You lead from alignment, not obligation.

You build constellations, not spotlights.

You amplify others, instead of hoarding power.

And yes—that makes you a threat.

Because systems built on fear, scarcity, and control

are terrified of leaders who empower the many.

Here’s what they won’t say out loud:

They want you exhausted.

Because when you’re drained, you’re easier to manage.

Easier to doubt yourself.

Easier to silence.

Why?

Because leading with integrity, collaboration, and care is countercultural.

They say they want that kind of leadership—

but when you actually live it, they push back.

And still—you keep going.

Not because it’s easy.

But because you couldn’t lead any other way.

But let’s call it like it is:

Choosing this path costs you energy.

Like ducks paddling upstream, it can take 2-4 times more effort

to lead with full integrity when the current is pulling you the other way.

So here’s the real question:

It’s not whether you’ll keep leading this way—you will.

It’s how you’ll sustain yourself while you do.

Because you don’t have to stay in their current.

You don’t have to keep fighting upstream.

You have choices.

Find the flow that moves with you—

where your values, energy, and impact are in sync.

Where leadership doesn’t drain you—

it fuels you.

That’s what the 7 Powerful Choices are:

Your daily practices to generate energy, clarity, and confidence—

so you can lead differently without losing yourself.

We’re not here just to fight the power.

We’re here to claim it—

the power that belongs to all of us.

The power to influence, to uplift, to lead from wherever we stand.

We don’t ask for permission.

We don’t wait for better systems.

We lead—

differently, deliberately, and together.

This is the quiet revolution.

This is how we keep going—stronger, clearer, and more connected than ever.

If this manifesto speaks to you, you’re already part of The Quiet Revolution. But knowing it isn’t enough—you need fuel to keep going. That’s why I created a simple tool to help you stay energized while leading in alignment with your values:

👇

🎁 [Download: The 7 Powerful Choices One-Pager]

Your daily reminder that you have options—small, sustaining choices that make a big difference. Because you don’t have to lead their way. And you don’t have to do it depleted.

Let’s keep going—together.

Lately, the Prayer of St. Francis has been on my mind. I don’t know exactly why—it just kept surfacing, lingering in my thoughts. Maybe because it’s a prayer about being a force for peace in a world that feels anything but peaceful. Maybe because it’s a call to lead with love when fear and anger seem to have louder voices.

So I looked it up.

I had always assumed St. Francis of Assisi wrote it himself. But as I dug deeper—and, chatted with ChatGPT about it—I learned that the prayer didn’t appear until 1912, centuries after St. Francis lived. It was first published in a French Catholic magazine, unsigned, just two years before the world erupted into the devastation of World War I.

That timing hit me hard.

People were already anxious, already sensing something shifting, already bracing for what they couldn’t yet name. And then, in that moment, this prayer emerged:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”

It was an offering, a plea, a reminder that no matter how dark the world becomes, we are not powerless. We can choose to be light.

History Echoes

Reading about the origins of this prayer, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to what’s happening now.

The world today is tense. The weight of conflict, division, and injustice feels heavy. We are watching wars unfold, democracy shake, communities fracture. People are exhausted, overwhelmed, unsure of what comes next.

And yet, just as in 1912, we are not powerless. We still have choices to make.

Jane Goodall said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” That, to me, is the heart of both the Prayer of St. Francis and the moment we are living in now. Leadership isn’t just for those in positions of power. It lives in the daily choices we make—to listen, to show up, to act with integrity, to be generous even when it’s easier to withdraw.

A Prayer for Now

I don’t think of myself as a poet, or particularly religious, but sometimes words just arrive, asking to be spoken. As I sat with all of this—the history, the alignment with today, the need for something steady to hold onto—I found myself writing. This prayer, An American Prayer for Peace, is my own offering. A way to put into words what I believe: that even now, especially now, we can still choose love.

An American Prayer for Peace

Lord, make me a melody of your guitar.

Where there is flannel, let me be the lace.

Where there is rope, let me be the release.

Where there is rust, let me be the dance.

Where there is sweat, let me be the breeze.

Where there is only red, let me be the rainbow.

O Loving One, let me not push so hard

To be heard, but to hear.

To be welcomed, but to welcome.

To be lifted, but to lift.

To be fed, but to feed.

For it is in reaching out that we are reached.

It is in inviting that we are invited.

It is in embracing that we are embraced.

It is in understanding that we are understood.

And in shedding our ways,

We return to the unspoiled beauty

Of our shared humanity—your will on Earth.

Choosing to Lead with Love

I don’t know what the world will look like in a year, or five, or ten. But I do know this: how we show up now matters. Even when things feel hopeless, even when anger feels easier than love, even when we don’t know if our small acts of kindness will change anything—our choices add up.

May we choose to keep going. To keep trying. To keep failing and learning and trying again. To keep seeing each other, showing up for each other, believing in each other.

May we all, in our own way, be instruments of peace.

The note said: “Still relying on these at age 50... Thank you so much, Jen!”

I was floored.

At the time, making those little affirmation cards didn’t feel like anything profound. My roommate and I used to keep similar ones scattered around our dorm—little reminders to help us stay grounded, hopeful, and motivated. I’m sure some people thought it was silly, childish or folksy. But we didn’t care. And looking back, I’m so grateful I didn’t dismiss the instinct to create and share them.

Because what might seem small in the moment—just a few words scribbled on a card—can become something much bigger over time.

The Ripple Effect of Encouragement

That message from my friend reminded me how much we need each other. How the smallest gestures—words of affirmation, a note, a sticker, a text saying “I see you. You’re doing great.”—can carry more weight than we ever realize.

We often assume encouragement needs to be grand or complex. But simple, heartfelt reminders of our worth and resilience can make all the difference.

How Can We Support Each Other in Small but Meaningful Ways?

If a few index cards can still bring comfort decades later, imagine what else we can do to uplift those around us:

• Write a small note of encouragement for a friend, partner, coworker, or even a stranger. A sticky note on their desk, a message slipped into a book, or a handwritten card in the mail. I used to leave notes in the bus station, a park bench, the library that said, “I’m grateful for you. Thank you for being here.”
  

• Create little affirmation stickers or digital notes to send in texts, emails, or even print out to leave in unexpected places.
  

• Normalize giving and receiving affirmation. If you admire something about someone, tell them. We often hold back kind words because we assume people already know their value. But sometimes, they don’t. And even if they do, hearing it still matters.
  

• Start a personal affirmation practice. Just as we can uplift others, we need to remind ourselves of our own strength. Keep a few affirmations nearby—on your mirror, in your journal, in your phone notes—and make it a habit to read them daily.

A Simple Reminder: You Matter

The message from my friend filled my cup in a way I wasn’t expecting. It was a reminder that our kindness—no matter how small—doesn’t just disappear. It lingers. It supports. It strengthens.

So, consider this your reminder today:

You are on the right track.

You make a difference.

Every day, in every way, you’re getting stronger and stronger.

I am grateful for you.

And if you’re feeling inspired, maybe pass that reminder along to someone else.

Because sometimes, the smallest words of encouragement can last a lifetime.

Federal employees—people who have dedicated their careers to serving the public good—are receiving micromanaging emails demanding past-week accomplishments and quantifiable impact. As if human contribution can be reduced to a spreadsheet entry. Mass firings—are being executed without regard for the individuals whose livelihoods are being upended.

People are scared. Families are scared. Agencies are scrambling to provide clarity, hosting town halls and webinars in an attempt to offer guidance. But what’s unfolding on these screens is surreal. Officials, reading from scripts with the stiffness of a hostage video, stare straight ahead, trying to look professional, trying to follow protocol. Their humanity—our shared humanity—seems to have been surgically removed in favor of corporate-speak and damage control.

Let me say what needs to be said.

Yes, you are fearful. I am fearful. We all feel the weight of this moment pressing down. But fear does not absolve us from choice.

To the employees caught in this nightmare: You have committed your life, your energy, your creativity, your expertise, your service to this work. Your contributions have mattered. They matter now. What is happening is unjust. It is wrong. And it should not be happening.

But in this moment, you still have a choice.

You can choose to reject the dehumanization that is being imposed upon you. You can choose to recognize the worth of your work, even if the authoritarian mouthpieces fail to acknowledge it. You can choose to stand with your colleagues, your families, your communities, and affirm what is real: that public service is not a commodity to be bought, sold, or discarded at will. It is the backbone of a functioning society.

And to those hosting these town halls, delivering these scripts—step up. Break the script. Acknowledge the reality. Let your people see that you recognize what’s happening for what it is. That you see them. That you know this is wrong. That you stand with them, not as figures of authority but as human beings navigating an unjust upheaval together.

Buffy Sainte-Marie sang it clearly in Universal Soldier:

He's the Universal Soldier
and he really is to blame.
His orders come from far away no more.
They come from here and there and you and me,
and brothers, can't you see
this is not the way to put an end to war.

This system, this machine, cannot function without people willing to carry out its orders. Every individual who complies, who follows protocol without question, sustains it. No mass firing happens without people choosing, one by one, to enact it. No order is enforced without a person deciding to enforce it.

I know it isn’t always simple. Some will say, *I have no choice; if I don’t do it, someone else will.* Others may believe that following orders will buy them a little more time, a little more security. But if you must comply, at the very least, do it with humanity. If you have tears, let them fall. If you have kindness, extend it. If you have empathy, hold onto it. Offer a hand to hold. Sit in silence and solidarity with those around you. Do not let them reduce you to a machine. You are not AI. You are you.

There is a line in the sand. You must choose. There is no neutral ground here.

Leadership is not about titles or hierarchy. It is about how we show up in moments of challenge. Every choice you make is an act of leadership. Whether you are responding to orders, facilitating discussions, or simply standing in solidarity, you have the power to shape what happens next.

If you're struggling with how to navigate fear and complexity, let’s talk. Leadership isn’t about compliance—it’s about presence, integrity, and action. You don’t have to do it alone. There is a path forward.

It’s complicated. It’s messy. And that is life—our beautiful, sentient, feeling, human life.

Choose humanity.

My quintessential Captain Obvious moment took place during my sophomore year of college. I was stressing about finding a roommate for the next year, determined to attend the upcoming "roommate fair" on campus. My friend and I walked across the campus green one day, strategizing our approach to this event, when my then-boyfriend casually mentioned from behind us, "You know, you two should just room with each other."

We stopped walking. Looked at each other. Shrugged. 

"You wanna?" 

"Sure. You wanna?" 

"Sure."

Just like that, I found my best friend for life. Sometimes the best solutions are hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone to shine a light on them. Thank you, Captain Obvious.

It seems to me that we’re in a place of needing our own Captain Obviouses right now. Friends or trusted advisors who can point out or affirm what is right there, right in front of us and yet we may not see it.

Why Don’t We Always Notice The Obvious?

Being human means sometimes missing what's right in front of us for a few key reasons:

• Tunnel Vision: We fixate on the problem itself, making potential solutions seem fuzzy or out of reach.

• Learned Helplessness: We assume things are just the way they are, surrendering our power to external forces. “They” will fix it—or maybe no one will.

• Fear of Change: Deep down, we may sense a different pathway exists, but trying it means risking failure, bruising our egos, or realizing we were wrong.

You Have Choices (Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

Here’s the truth: We choose how we respond. My teenager doesn’t like hearing this, and you may not either. But it’s reality.

Some of us have more choices than others, but every one of us makes moment-by-moment decisions about how we engage with the world. When the rain is pelting down, collapsing your umbrella, you can’t pretend it’s sunny–but you can choose how you dance through the storm.

We are in a storm right now–with another one brewing on the horizon.  (Thank you, Captain Obvious). 

And yet, even in a storm, we have choices. Beautiful, powerful, transformative choices.

The Shape of This Storm

At this time of year, living in Maine, we pay close attention to the weather channels, glued to the radar of predicted storms. The kids banking on tomorrow’s snow day, my husband readying the snowblower, and me flipping through cookbooks for our snowed-in feast. 

If you haven’t been here, all I can say is that winter in Maine looks a whole lot different than summer in Maine. 

Similarly, the world we're navigating now is not the world we knew just a few years ago. We're in what leadership folks call a VUCA vortex—Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. Just another way to say "everything feels a little crazy right now."

VUCA times call for a different kind of leadership. A warmer, more human kind of leadership.

These times call for your leadership. 

Your Light Matters (Yes, You're a Leader)

Maybe you don’t see yourself as a leader.  But, here’s the thing–if you care, if you sense that things could be otherwise, could be better, then this moment is calling you. Not necessarily to take a stand, lead a protest, or make a speech. But to be more fully, authentically, courageously yourself. 

To paraphrase Marianne Williamson:

We are all meant to shine, as children do. It’s not just in some of us—it’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we give others permission to do the same.

Leadership in VUCA Times: A Heart-Centered Approach

If you've embraced your leadership role (whether you call it that or not), I have news for you – both good and challenging.

The good news: You already have everything you need inside you. (An aside: for years, we offered a leadership program called “What You Need is Here”--the ‘here’ being already inside you.)  Now, the challenging part: Traditional leadership approaches were designed for calmer seas. Right now, we need something different.

Here's what you can do right now, right where you are:

• Hold Strong: Root yourself in what matters most to you. Turn down the noise of the world. Guard your goodness like the treasure it is.

• Be a Haven: Create spaces where others can find connection and support. Focus on your immediate sphere – your family, your neighborhood, your workplace. Make it a little warmer, a little kinder, a little more human.

• Trust Your Knowing: We don't have time to research everything to death. Trust that you know enough to take the next right step. Notice what's working, even in small ways, and build on that.
  
  

Your Storm Navigation Kit

Lean into these capacities right now to help you weather the storm.

• Center. Persist. Stay focused. Anchor yourself in your core purpose.

• Notice. Observe how you feel. Spot exceptions to the norm. Shine a light on them.

• Wonder. Stay curious. Ask more what, who, when, where, and how questions—skip the why.

• Invite. Bring people together. Create moments of connection. Share warmth.

• Welcome. Stay open to joy. Look for ways to share power. Build bridges.

  
  

Your Next Right Step

Remember this: You are the captain of your own ship. Every storm has an end. You are surrounded by fellow travelers.

Most importantly, you don't have to figure it all out alone. The next right step is often smaller and simpler than we think. Sometimes it's as obvious as looking at the friend walking beside you and saying, "Hey, want to do this together?"

Want to explore these ideas with others navigating similar waters? Join us at learn.developmentwithoutlimits.org/course/comeback where we're building a community of thoughtful leaders like you.

Sustaining leadership energy isn’t about working harder or pushing through. It’s about making simple, intentional shifts that align your leadership with what truly fuels you. These seven shifts will help you step into a more effective, energized, and sustainable leadership approach—so you can lead with purpose without sacrificing yourself in the process.

1. Shift Your Perspective: Expand What’s Possible

Instead of being swept away by daily demands, choose to view your challenges from the periphery. Look at the bigger picture.

Where can you create change that aligns with your values? This shift invites you to notice intersections, embrace new approaches, and step into a more expansive way of leading.

Like standing at the edge of a river, you can see both the immediate currents and the broader flow. This vantage point reveals opportunities that remain hidden when you're caught in the middle of the stream.

2.  Shift Into Presence: Engage Fully in the Moment

Busy leaders often operate on autopilot, reacting instead of truly engaging.

Presence is about tuning in—listening deeply, making intentional decisions, and leading with awareness. When you’re fully present, your leadership becomes more powerful and connected.

Rather than constantly racing to the next thing, choose to ground yourself in the current moment. True presence isn't about doing more—it's about being fully available for what's happening right now. This choice alone can transform your interactions and decision-making.

3. Shift Toward Energizing Actions: Prioritize What Fuels You

Leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about doing the right things in a way that sustains you. Identify the tasks, conversations, and routines that bring energy rather than deplete it, and make them a priority.

Stop treating leadership like a burden to bear. Choose to embrace the natural enthusiasm that drew you to this work in the first place. When you align with what genuinely energizes you, your impact naturally expands.

4. Shift from Isolation to Connection: Lead in Community

Leadership is not a solo act. Build relationships that energize, challenge, and support you.

Who are the people who bring clarity, collaboration, and shared momentum? Create your own table rather than waiting to be invited.

Leadership can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. Choose to build authentic connections rather than shouldering everything alone. Like a strong root system, relationships provide both stability and growth.

5. Shift Your Performance Mindset: Success is Sustainable

Success isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about designing rhythms that keep you performing at your best. This shift invites you to develop energizing rituals, set intentional boundaries, and build a leadership approach that is both effective and sustainable.

Instead of pushing until you break, choose sustainable practices that keep you grounded. Honor the basics: rest, movement, nourishment. You can't pour from an empty cup.

6. Shift to an Abundance Lens: Unlock New Possibilities

Move beyond the scarcity mindset that says there’s never enough—time, resources, or opportunities. Leadership energy expands when you believe in creating rather than competing. This shift invites you to open doors rather than see roadblocks.

When faced with constraints, choose to see them as invitations to creativity rather than roadblocks. Every limit is a doorway to innovation if you're willing to look differently. You may find yourself saying, “Ha! I wish it were that easy.: But…what if it is?

7. Shift Into Amplified Impact: Use Your Influence Wisely

True leadership is about expanding what’s possible for others as well as yourself. Use your influence to create ripples—whether through mentoring, modeling, or sharing ideas. This shift turns your leadership into a source of lasting, meaningful change.

Rather than forcing influence, choose to lead from your genuine strengths. True power emerges naturally when your actions align with your values. Become an amplifier of power by using your influence to elevate others. Remember that genuine strength—leadership strength and human strength—is about giving, not taking.

Ready to Make a Shift?

Leadership doesn’t have to drain you. These simple shifts are an invitation to align your energy with your impact—so you can lead in a way that is clear, confident, and sustainable.

📖 Want to go deeper?

Get your free copy of 7 Powerful Choices to Reclaim Your Leadership Energy and start integrating these shifts today.

👉 Download the Guide

“It's almost as if people have been so beaten down by the last decade, they've lost the self-confidence to wish for more.”

The words hit home. In my conversations with purpose-driven leaders across sectors, I hear a common thread—a deep weariness that goes beyond physical exhaustion. These are passionate people who entered their work ready to create change. Now they're running on empty, questioning whether transformation is possible.

In a country built on determination and bold dreams, where we tell our children they can be anything, where we pride ourselves on fierce independence, have we stopped believing in the dreams for ourselves?

Have we truly lost the self-confidence to wish for more?

Hidden Patterns of Depletion

What I'm seeing goes beyond Brooks' "pessimism bubble." I see something more nuanced: talented individuals who no longer trust their ability to make an impact. People who once believed in the power of collective action but now feel constrained by systems, limited by resources, worn down by resistance.

Behind every policy, deadline, and budget constraint are people. People who can choose differently. In the sectors we serve - nonprofit, government, education, social services - we've unconsciously embraced a culture of scarcity. We speak of limitations as if they're wisdom. We wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. When someone dreams big, we whisper "be realistic" - our code for "be smaller."

These patterns show up everywhere: in midnight emails, in proud declarations of sleepless nights, in subtle eye rolls when someone suggests a bold new idea. We've convinced ourselves that passion is naive and dreams are distractions from "real work."

While writing this, I found myself thinking: Who benefits if passionate, purpose-driven changemakers are worn down? 

The Human Heart of Systems Change

Want to know what really keeps me up at night? Some of us may actually believe it. We're passing down these patterns like they're worthwhile, forgetting something crucial: Systems aren't abstract entities - they're made of people. People who wake up each morning with the power to choose differently.

Every policy can be rewritten. Every deadline can be renegotiated. Every budget reflects someone's priorities. When we remember this fundamental truth - that humans create and sustain these systems - we reclaim our power to imagine something better.

Reclaiming Our Confidence to Wish for More

Possibility isn't some luxury we can't afford. It's not naive optimism or wishful thinking. It's a practice of gentle persistence. It's choosing to see beyond current limitations while staying grounded in reality. It's taking micro steps forward when every system suggests we stay still.

It is up to us.

As Maya Angelou reminds us in A Brave and Startling Truth:

Practicing Possibility

When we feel stuck, small shifts in perspective can reignite momentum:

• Instead of focusing on barriers, explore what's within reach.

• Rather than assuming what won't work, experiment with what might.

• Move from "I can't" to "What's possible here?"

• Remember that behind every "no" is a person who could say "yes"

Possibility isn’t about ignoring constraints—it’s about refusing to let them be the whole story. Take one step. Test one idea. Have one conversation. This is how we rebuild our confidence and energy, one choice at a time.

Your Invitation to More

Your challenge today: Choose one area where you feel stuck. Now ask yourself—what’s one small action that moves you forward? Not the whole solution, just the next right step. Who are the people behind the systems you're navigating? How might you engage them in imagining something better?

The ability to imagine better possibilities isn't a luxury. It's the fuel that drives meaningful change. And it's yours to reclaim.

If you're seeing this kind of weariness or resignation in your work, let's talk about how it's showing up.

Want to do something to shift that? I'm here to help you rediscover what's possible.

What's your next step?

But here’s the thing: We don’t have to accept this as normal.

Sometimes, change starts in unexpected places. For me, it began with an ordinary evening, watching a favorite show with my husband early in our marriage. We had laughed at it for years, but one night, something shifted. The jokes didn’t feel funny anymore. Instead, they felt sharp, mean, and unnecessary. Throwing around derogatory stereotypes, name calling and belittling characters of various religions, gender, heritage or ability. I started realizing just how often we excuse cruelty as “just humor” or “just how things are.”

Pema Chödrön teaches that nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know. And maybe, in this moment of collective struggle, what we need to learn is hiding in plain sight—in our humor, in our words, in the small ways we either build each other up or tear each other down.

The Subtle Ways Harm Spreads

Our culture often rewards the sharp edge of intelligence over the quiet power of connection. We trade knowing glances, perfect our sarcastic timing, and wear cynicism like armor. We roll our eyes in solidarity with the “smart” people in the room. We use our wit to get laughs, even when it comes at someone else’s expense.

I’ve done it too. I’ve said the quick remark that made people laugh but left someone feeling small. I’ve leaned into sarcasm as a way to shield myself from discomfort. And what I see now is that these little moments add up. They ripple outward, reinforcing the very patterns of harm we say we want to change.

For many years, I had this quote from the Upanishads on my bathroom mirror:

These words strike me differently than they did twenty years ago. They feel even more weighty. Even more important. Even more necessary.

What goes into our brains, will come out—in the form our speech, actions, habits. Even what we ingest as entertainment.

What Happens When We Choose Differently?

What if we stopped treating clever words as a shield? What if we challenged ourselves to find humor that connects rather than divides? What if we became aware of the culture we’re creating in our conversations, workplaces, and communities?

This shift isn’t about being overly careful or humorless. It’s about being intentional. It’s about noticing when our words build bridges and when they create distance. It’s about choosing to lead in a way that centers kindness without sacrificing honesty.

You Are a Leader

You don’t need a title to lead. Leadership isn’t about a job description—it’s about how you show up. If you’re committed to something bigger than yourself, if you’re working toward positive change, you’re leading. Even if you don’t see yourself that way. Even if you feel like you don’t hold any power.

The choices you make—how you engage, how you speak, how you listen—shape the spaces you’re in. The world isn’t changed just by people in positions of authority. It’s changed by those who choose to be intentional, to lead with integrity, to create environments where others feel seen and valued.

Balancing the Call Out with a Call In

We’ve seen so much calling-out over the past decade that we’re starting to become numb to it or worse, starting to give more of our attention/more clicks/more readership/more energy to the sarcastic, cruel and urgent and less attention/fewer clicks/less readership/less energy to the thoughtful, kind and expansive.

It’s easy to point out what’s wrong, and there’s real value in holding people accountable. But calling things out isn’t enough. If we stop there, we risk creating more division. 

A call-in, on the other hand, invites people into change. It acknowledges that we all have blind spots and room to grow. It recognizes that transformation happens when people feel seen, not shamed.

If we want to move forward, we need both—truth and invitation, accountability and compassion.

Speaking Truth Without Normalizing Cruelty

"Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself." — Desiderius Erasmus

There’s a difference between speaking necessary truths and being cruel in the name of honesty. Truth should illuminate, not humiliate. It should challenge power, not diminish the powerless.

Naming injustice, calling attention to harm—these things matter. But how we do it matters, too. Are we speaking up to make things better, or just to feel superior? Are our words creating space for healing, or just adding to the noise?

Truth can be sharp, but it doesn’t have to cut people down. We get to choose whether our voices add to the fractures or help mend them.

A Call to Consciousness

The world won’t become kinder unless we decide to make it so. And that decision starts in the smallest moments—opting out of a show that thrives on cruelty, resisting the urge to gossip, choosing to be thoughtful even when it would be easier not to.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. Every moment gives us a choice: to contribute to the problem or to help create something better.

So let’s choose well. Let’s lead in a way that lifts rather than wounds. Let’s be the ones who shift the culture, one conversation at a time.

Need clear examples of how to call others in and drop the cruel language? Check out this resource: Words as Doorways: Inviting Growth Through Leadership Language.

We are living through a moment that demands more than passive endurance. Hate feels like a constant companion—divisive rhetoric, systemic injustices, the slow erosion of human dignity. This is the landscape where leadership is not a choice, but a calling.

The other day a line from Dylan Thomas’ poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" came into my mind. You know the one:

I wrote my high school senior research paper on the author and dug deep into the poem. Of course, I had chosen Thomas as my subject pretty haphazardly–assuming he was the namesake of Bob Dylan and that he must be badass, too. Don’t you love how the teenage mind works?  😂  I found much more within Thomas’ work than I’d expected.

He was a poet who understood that resistance is an act of love. It was never just a poem about death. It was a manifesto of human resilience.

The Courage to Be a Beacon

Leadership in treacherous times is about being a beacon. Leading by example—whatever your role, position or perceived power—is the mantra, the focus I encourage you to take. Do this by:

• Refusing to normalize cruelty

• Creating spaces of genuine connection

• Transforming pain into possibility

• Holding hope as a radical act of defiance

When I first encountered Thomas's words as a high school student, I didn't understand how deeply they would speak to leadership. Rage, he suggested, is not destruction. It's the fire that illuminates our shared humanity.

Navigating the Complexity

You are already navigating complexity. And you know that today’s leaders must be compassionate listeners, courageous truth-tellers and healers of collective wounds. My guess is that you’ve been doing this work already, maybe for a very long time.

Today is the day to expand your reach. To.Day.

Talk to one additional person. Invite one more connection in. Speak into the microphone. Figure out how to broaden and deepen your current base. Do not stay inside, behind your computer, hiding with your head down. Lamenting the way things are. No—you cannot remain neutral.

The world doesn't need neutrality. It needs people willing to stand in the full complexity of human experience—those who can hold both the pain and the potential of our moment. That is you. We need you.

Personal Becomes Political

Years of reflection on Dylan Thomas, coupled with life experience, has only reinforced to me that every act of resistance begins with a deeply personal choice. To see the humanity in others. To refuse the narrative of division. To believe that connection is more powerful than conflict.

In this moment of upheaval, wildfires, and blatant hate, your leadership must be about:

• Acknowledging our shared vulnerability

• Creating bridges across divided landscapes

• Believing in the possibility of collective healing

A Call to Radical Hope

To embrace this work, you need to make the choice to take personal action. At every opportunity, every opening, every space you can find. That means: 

• Maintaining your inner fire

• Speaking truth with compassion

• Protecting the most vulnerable

• Reimagining what's possible

Yes, you will miss opportunities or pass opportunities to be the leader this moment calls us each to become. The phone will buzz. The pot will boil over. The doorbell will ring. There will be interruptions.  There will be distractions. There will be intentional derailments. Notice when they occur. And then take the next opportunity. Or make the next opportunity. That’s where the inner fire comes out. ❤️‍🔥

The Wisdom of Defiance

As someone dedicated to your purpose and committed to change, I invite you to embrace the fact that you are a leader. Step into your power and rage against the dying of the light. Rage by making these choices: Choose love over fear; Embrace complexity; Stand firm in your integrity; and, Maintain your belief in human potential.

A Promise to Ourselves

In these treacherous times, we are called to be more than observers. We are leaders. We are changemakers. We are architects of hope, creators of spaces where humanity can breathe, grow, and transform.

Rage on, beautiful souls. Rage with love. Rage with purpose. ❤️🌈💥

“When I’m in charge, it’s 3-day weekends every week,” I remember saying as a brand-new teacher, full of energy, ideas, and a little bit of humor.

While I still think long weekends are the way to go💥--just read the Performance chapter in our guide, 7 Powerful Choices to Reclaim Your Leadership Energy—over time, I have realized that our perception of leaders and leadership may need a real adjustment.

I recently heard from a colleague that she didn’t think she could join one of our leadership development programs because “I’m NOT a leader,” she said. Yet, in the very same email, she outlined her own driving question about what actions she can take to create real change in her work.

It’s funny how, when we think about being in charge, about leading, we often imagine sweeping changes, grand decisions, or big titles. But the truth is, leadership is rarely about the spotlight—it’s about what you choose to do every single day.

Here are some beliefs that hold us back from seeing ourselves as leaders—and the truths that can change everything:

1. Us/Them Thinking
   

   Belief: They are leaders. We are resisters.
   

   Truth: In your resistance, you find power. Your actions influence others. You are a leader.

Think about Rosa Parks—her quiet act of resistance lit a fire of change that reshaped history.

2. Hierarchical Thinking

Belief: Title, role, or position = leader.

Truth: Leadership isn’t about your title—it’s about your actions. Some of the most impactful leaders have no formal authority, yet they inspire, guide, and create change.

Think about someone who inspires you. Chances are, it’s not their title that sticks with you—it’s how they made you feel, what they stood for, or the way they took action.

3. Boxed-In Thinking

Belief: I have to follow along, do what I’m told, meet the expectations. I have no choice.

Truth: Every single human being has at least one choice: how to respond to the situation you’re in.

Viktor Frankl taught us that even in the darkest circumstances, we have the power to choose our attitude, actions, and mindset.

4. Not-Enough Thinking

Belief: Leaders speak up, stand up, and take action—things I don’t naturally do.

Truth: When you intentionally do what is good, right, and just, you lead by example. Leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like a young person offering kindness or standing up for a friend.

Think about a time you saw someone’s small, kind act ripple outward—it’s a reminder that even the smallest actions can lead to the biggest changes.

5. Monster-Under-the-Bed Thinking

Belief: Leaders are fearless, extraordinary, larger-than-life. I’m just… me.

Truth: Fear doesn’t disqualify you from leadership; it invites you to it. Leadership begins when you take one small, courageous step. That step shows others what’s possible—and that’s how monsters shrink.

Think about anyone who stood up even when they were afraid—their courage gives others permission to do the same.

The Truth About You and Leadership

Leadership isn’t something you wait for or something someone hands you. It’s something you step into every time you choose to act with courage, care, or conviction.

So, what would you do if you were in charge?

Spoiler alert: You already are.

(Share your thoughts below—I’d love to hear what leadership means to you!)

"We're not quite ready to have this conversation."

I get it. Deeply. Behind every rescheduled Zoom, every "let's touch base next quarter," every "not yet" lives a story about fear. Like putting lipstick on a pig, we keep applying temporary solutions while our insides whisper that something more profound is asking for our attention.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

In the quiet spaces between meetings, between follow-up conversations, between the knowing acknowledgment that yes, something needs to change, here's what I hear change-makers really saying:

• "We can't afford real change right now" – But beneath that practical veneer lives a deeper truth: we're spending precious resources on quick fixes–another training, another curriculum– while our people continue to burn out, our mission continues to feel just out of reach.

• "There's no time for deep work" – Even as we spend countless hours in crisis meetings about retention, watching our middle managers grow weary in their Brady Bunch boxes on screen, their cameras increasingly turning off.

• "We're not ready yet" – This one lands in my chest every time. Because what I hear is: "If we really look at our organizational culture, at how we're treating our people, we might have to change everything."

The Dance of Not Yet

A few months ago, I sat in a virtual strategy session, the discussion filled with hope and hesitation. The chat box filled with the usual suggestions – new management frameworks, innovative team structures, fresh approaches to meetings.

But beneath each carefully crafted message lurked the shadow of what wasn't being typed, until one leader, her voice cracking through her headphones, spoke: "We keep talking about building an equitable organization, but we don't even know how to have honest conversations with each other about what's really happening here."

The silence that followed filled the space with possibility. In that moment of truth, even through the distance of our screens, something shifted.

An Invitation

Maybe you’re planning another training on ‘crucial conversations’ or ‘restorative practices’ or revising accountability policies and talking about time management. Sure, that may help. A little.

But the reality is that whatever is prompting you to seek those as solutions, is actually deeper and more fundamental.

Trust. Fear. Scarcity. In my experience, it’s usually about something along these lines.

What if, today, you:

1. Let yourself feel what's really happening in your postponements

2. Named one truth about how your people are really doing

3. Took one tiny step toward building the culture you dream of

Our sector may feel frozen in this moment, caught between what we've always done and what we know is possible. But in this very pause lives an invitation – to stop pretending, to stop avoiding, to simply begin.

Even if your hands shake a little. Even if your voice whispers. Even if you can only see one step ahead.

That's enough. That's everything. That's how we start.

Ready to stop rescheduling your transformation? I'm here, heart open, ready to walk beside you through your screen. Sometimes the greatest journeys begin with simply showing up for that first honest conversation about how we support our people.

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]]>Lipstick on a Pig: When Fear Freezes Our WorkJennifer BradySat, 18 Jan 2025 15:12:38 +0000https://www.developmentwithoutlimits.org/news/2025/1/18/can-work-actually-give-you-energy-instead-of-draining-it5b588674e749401bdaffd09e:5d414ffe89ce3b0001e17da4:678bc4b865536a135ccdebccWhile doing some final research for my latest guide, I came across a fascinating study that flips the way we think about workplace culture. You know how medicine is often about fighting illness rather than building health? Or how education tends to focus on fixing deficits instead of building on strengths?

Well, the way we approach workplace culture has traditionally followed the same path—zeroing in on what’s broken. Think: stress, burnout, heavy workloads, toxic environments, exclusionary practices. We’re great at identifying what makes work a negative experience.

But here’s the exciting part: there’s a growing body of research asking a different question. Instead of focusing on what's wrong, researchers are beginning to explore what makes work a positive, energy-boosting experience.

The study I found asked a bold question: “Is it possible to gain energy at work?”

The answer? 🙌 YES.

What Makes Work Energizing?

An energy-boosting work environment has a few key traits, and they align with what many of us intuitively know but rarely prioritize:

• Opportunities for recovery 🧘‍♀️💤🌿
  Workplaces that support recovery—whether through breaks, flexible schedules, or a supportive environment—help employees recharge during the workday.

• High autonomy 🚀🤝🗝️
  The ability to make decisions, manage your own work, and take ownership creates a sense of empowerment that fuels energy.

• Positive work environment 🌟🤗🤝
  When employees feel comfortable in their roles, experience mutual respect, and share common values with their team, it builds trust and positivity.

• Strong internal satisfaction 🎯😊💡
  Feeling that your work is meaningful, being happy about going to work, and having variety or challenges in your role contribute to a deep sense of fulfillment.

Introducing: Regenerative Work

The most exciting idea in the study is the concept of regenerative work—work that doesn’t just demand your energy but actually recharges you. Think about that for a second. Imagine coming home from work feeling energized, not depleted. Imagine work as a source of growth and vitality, not exhaustion.

This concept isn’t just theoretical—it’s a growing priority for companies that want to build thriving, high-performing teams.

Why This Matters to Us

At DWL, many clients come to us in crisis mode. Their culture isn’t just failing—it’s causing real harm. People are quitting, teams are overwhelmed, and burnout is rampant. When we start asking questions, teams can usually list everything that’s wrong. But when we ask what’s going right, we often get blank stares.

It’s human nature. We’re problem solvers, and our instinct is to focus on fixing what’s broken. 🔨

But this study reminded me of something critical: if we only focus on fixing problems, we miss the opportunity to create something better. We miss the chance to design work environments that energize, inspire, and regenerate.

This is What We’re Building

This study validates so much of what we do at DWL. It aligns with what we’ve learned from our clients and what we’re sharing in our new guide and forthcoming book. Our mission is to help companies move beyond problem-solving and start building regenerative, energizing workplaces.

Does this idea resonate with you? Could your organization shift toward regenerative work?

If you're ready to learn more—or curious about where to start—let’s connect. We’d love to help you create a workplace that doesn’t just work, but one that thrives.

A leader recently shared something that struck me deeply: "I used to love what I did. Now I just survive it." It's a small admission, sure, but it speaks to something bigger: how easily we can lose our connection to purpose and pleasure in our work when facing sustained challenges.

I get it. When everything feels heavy, it's easy to fall into the trap of treating leadership as pure obligation. We put our heads down, push through, and tell ourselves that joy is a luxury we can't afford right now. But here's what I've learned about sustainable leadership: pleasure isn't optional—it's essential.

Let me be clear: I'm not talking about team happy hours, workplace perks, or finding balance through activities outside of work. While those have their place, I'm pointing to something more fundamental: the natural energy and engagement that exists within leadership itself. Like Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of 'flow,' it's about discovering those moments where challenge meets skill and time seems to stop—right in the middle of strategic thinking, problem-solving, or guiding your team through complexity.

This is deeply personal work. You can't outsource joy or mandate engagement. You can't make meetings more "fun" or force enthusiasm in others. Instead, this is about your internal relationship with leadership—how you engage with what's already present in your role. It's about creating space to notice where energy naturally emerges and giving yourself permission to lean into those moments.

Some pathways to explore:

• Notice what captures your full attention. Which strategic challenges light up your thinking? When do you lose track of time in deep work? These moments of natural engagement are signposts to sustainable leadership energy.

• Welcome the unexpected. Sometimes flow appears in surprising places—in solving a complex problem, in a moment of clarity during chaos, or in seeing a team member grasp a difficult concept.

• Create space for possibility. Where do your skills, challenges, and genuine interests intersect? Rather than forcing engagement, allow yourself to discover where it already exists.

• Release rigid expectations. Often, we block our natural engagement by holding too tightly to how things "should" be. What if you could approach leadership with genuine curiosity instead?

The truth is, finding pleasure in leadership isn't about making work more entertaining—it's about discovering the natural energy that exists within meaningful challenge. When we lead from this place of genuine engagement rather than obligation, our impact naturally expands. Our strategic thinking deepens. Our resilience grows.

This isn't about pushing harder or doing more. It's about reconnecting with the inherent satisfaction in bringing your full capabilities to complex challenges. Because in times of sustained pressure and change, we need leaders who can tap into their natural wellspring of engagement and purpose.

What moments in your leadership naturally energize you? Where do you find flow in the work itself? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

---

*This post is part of our series exploring the 7P Framework for Leadership Transformation: Perspective, Presence, Pleasure, People, Performance, Possibility, and Power. Learn more about the Comeback Leadership Series at https://learn.developmentwithoutlimits.org/course/comeback .*

The truth is, you don't need another list of goals to accomplish or habits to build. What you need is the recognition that in every moment, you have the power to choose differently. As Victor Frankl reminded us, everything can be taken from us except one thing: the freedom to choose our response to any situation.

Why Choices Over Resolutions?

Resolutions often feel like promises we make to our future selves, but choices? Choices are immediate. They're tangible. They're available to us right now, in this moment. And it's through these daily choices that real transformation occurs.

Here are the seven fundamental choices that can revitalize your leadership in 2025 and keep you going:

1. Choose Perspective Over Chaos

Instead of being swept away by daily demands, choose to view your challenges from the periphery. Like standing at the edge of a river, you can see both the immediate currents and the broader flow. This vantage point reveals opportunities that remain hidden when you're caught in the middle of the stream.

2. Choose Presence Over Distraction

Rather than constantly racing to the next thing, choose to ground yourself in the current moment. True presence isn't about doing more—it's about being fully available for what's happening right now. This choice alone can transform your interactions and decision-making.

3. Choose Pleasure Over Obligation

Stop treating leadership like a burden to bear. Choose to embrace the natural enthusiasm that drew you to this work in the first place. When you align with what genuinely energizes you, your impact naturally expands.

4. Choose People Over Isolation

Leadership can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. Choose to build authentic connections rather than shouldering everything alone. Like a strong root system, relationships provide both stability and growth.

5. Choose Performance Through Balance

Instead of pushing until you break, choose sustainable practices that keep you grounded. Honor the basics: rest, movement, nourishment. You can't pour from an empty cup.

6. Choose Possibility Over Limitation

When faced with constraints, choose to see them as invitations to creativity rather than roadblocks. Every limit is a doorway to innovation if you're willing to look differently. You may find yourself saying, “Ha! I wish it were that easy.: But…what if it is?

7. Choose Power Through Authenticity

Rather than forcing influence, choose to lead from your genuine strengths. True power emerges naturally when your actions align with your values. Become an amplifier of power by using your influence to elevate others. Remember that genuine strength—leadership strength and human strength—is about giving, not grabbing.

Making These Choices Real

These aren't one-time decisions but ongoing invitations to show up differently in your leadership. Each day presents countless moments to choose again, to realign with what matters most. The beauty of this approach is that you can't fail—you can only learn and choose again. There's no falling off the wagon, no starting over. There's just this moment, and the choice it offers you. Learn more about our 7P Leadership Revitalization Framework.

Ready to Choose Differently?

If you're feeling called to embrace these choices but unsure where to begin, you're not alone. That's exactly why we created our Comeback Leadership program. It's not about adding more to your plate—it's about choosing a different way to show up to what's already there.

As we begin this year, what choice is calling to you?

Which of these seven paths feels like your next right step? The journey of leadership renewal starts with a single choice, made in a single moment—this moment.

Ready to explore how these choices can transform your leadership? Learn more about our Comeback Leadership program and start your journey of sustainable change.

The Edge of Everything

When our professional identity becomes untethered, it's tempting to immediately start rebuilding what was lost. But sometimes, the most powerful perspective shifts happen when we pause at the periphery—that edge space where what was meets what could be.

Like standing at the edge of a river, we can see both the immediate currents and the broader flow. From this vantage point, change isn't just something that happens to us—it's an invitation to notice what we couldn't see when we were in the middle of the stream.

Finding Your Edge Space

For me, that edge space was literally my attic. Six years of professional identity had been carefully packed away in boxes: conference badges, project binders, thank-you notes from colleagues. Each item represented a story I had told myself about who I was and what mattered.

But perspective isn't just about looking backward—it's about finding the intersection between what has been and what could be. As I sorted through those boxes, I wasn't just organizing physical objects. I was creating space to notice:

• What energized me in my previous role

• Which projects made time disappear

• What I had always wanted to try but never had the courage to pursue

The Power of the Periphery

When we're deeply embedded in our usual routines and roles, it's hard to see alternatives. But at the edges—those spaces where one thing transforms into another—we have more freedom to experiment and explore.

Think of ice melting: it doesn't happen uniformly throughout. It starts at the edges, where flexibility meets opportunity. The same is true for personal and professional transformation. The periphery is where rigid structures begin to soften, where new possibilities first emerge.

Starting Where You Are

You don't need a dramatic upheaval to benefit from edge thinking. The invitation is to:

1. Notice your intersections: Where do your various roles and interests overlap?

2. Map your edge spaces: What areas of your work give you room to experiment?

3. Embrace the perspective of the periphery: What becomes visible when you step back from the center?

The Clarity Beyond Chaos

That day in my attic marked the beginning of a decade-long journey toward living into my true purpose. But the transformation didn't happen through forcing or fighting. It happened through finding clarity in the chaos, through allowing myself to operate from the edges rather than struggling to maintain my position in the center.

Remember: Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply start where we are, with what we have, seeing with fresh eyes what has been there all along. Your edge space might not be an attic full of boxes. It might be:

• A side project that lights you up

• A volunteer role that lets you experiment

• A quiet morning practice that helps you see differently

The invitation isn't to abandon everything and start over. It's to notice where you already have room to explore, to play, to see things differently. Because often, our next chapter isn't about becoming someone entirely new—it's about seeing who we've always been, just from a different angle.

This article is part of a series highlighting the 7P Leadership Revitalization Framework from Development Without Limits, focusing on Perspective as a pathway to sustainable change and authentic leadership. If this piece resonates with you, consider checking out our Comeback Leadership program to continue your resilience journey.

Like stones dropped in still water, setbacks create ripples that touch every shore of our lives. That moment of professional rupture often spreads, until the voice questioning "Am I good enough for this role?" becomes a chorus of doubt touching every aspect of our identity.

The Illusion of Invulnerability

The advice arrives swiftly, well-intentioned but often hollow: "Fake it till you make it." Put on a brave face. Act as if. This counsel, while rooted in the desire to help, asks us to fragment ourselves—to present a polished exterior while our interior world quakes with uncertainty.

As my friend stirred her now-cooling coffee, I recognized in her struggle something universal about how we face disruption—that instinctive reach for armor when what we truly need might be authentic presence.

The Power of Radical Presence

Mary Rose O'Reilley's work on radical presence offers us a different path. Instead of masking our vulnerability, she invites us to practice being fully awake to our experience—to show up not as we think we should be, but as we actually are. This kind of presence requires courage, but it offers something far more sustainable than any carefully constructed facade.

In the Leadership Revitalization Framework we've developed at Development Without Limits, presence emerges as a cornerstone of authentic leadership—not because it promises invulnerability, but precisely because it allows us to lead from a place of genuine strength, even amid uncertainty.

Finding Ground in Uncertainty

True presence isn't about fixing ourselves or putting on a brave face. It's about creating space to:

• Notice Without Judgment

  Before rushing to action or resistance, pause to acknowledge where you are. Like a tree bending in strong winds, flexibility often proves stronger than rigidity.

• Ground in the Moment

  When insecurity threatens to sweep us away, presence offers an anchor. Simple practices—feeling your feet on the ground, following your breath, noticing the warmth of a coffee cup in your hands—can bring you back to yourself.

• Reconnect with Values

  Ask yourself: "What remains true, even in this uncertainty?" Your values persist, regardless of external circumstances. They offer a compass when the path ahead seems unclear.
  

Leading Through Vulnerability

The path through setbacks isn't about fighting our way back to who we were. It's about having the courage to discover who we're becoming through this experience. When we lead from presence rather than pretense, we create spaces where others can do the same.

Consider:

• Where are you showing up inauthentically?

• What small practice of presence could ground you today?

• How might you offer yourself the same compassion you'd extend to a friend?

The Wisdom in Vulnerability

As our coffee grew cold and the morning light shifted, my friend's shoulders softened slightly. "Maybe," she reflected, "I don't have to have it all figured out right now." In that moment of genuine presence, something shifted—not because circumstances had changed, but because she had created space to meet herself exactly where she was.

Remember: Insecurity thrives in silence and self-criticism. Presence dismantles it by rooting us in the truth of who we are—capable, imperfect, and worthy. The path forward doesn't require you to fake anything. It asks only that you show up, just as you are, ready to engage with life's challenges with courage and authenticity.

Your vulnerability isn't a liability—it's part of the rich texture of human experience. In choosing presence over pretense, you don't just transform your own journey; you create ripples of permission that touch everyone around you, inviting us all into more authentic ways of leading and living.

Drawing from years of walking alongside leaders through moments of transformation, this piece offers a pathway to authentic presence in times of uncertainty. If this article resonates with you, consider checking out our Comeback Leadership program to continue your resilience journey.

Finding Your People at the Edges 

My mentor Jan taught me early on that sometimes the most effective change happens when we work at the periphery rather than within rigid systems. This insight has shaped how I think about finding our people - often the strongest supporters aren't in the mainstream of our fields, but at the intersections where innovation and authenticity thrive.

The Power of Quantum Connections 

Quantum physics shows us that everything exists in relationship - not as isolated entities but as networks of interaction. You know, I enjoy the work of Carlo Rovelli. And, what we know about relationships and connection at the quantum level mirrors what I've learned about changemaking: our ability to create lasting impact doesn't come from lonely heroic efforts but from the web of relationships we weave at the edges of systems.

Starting with One 

You don't need a vast network. Start with one person who gets it - someone who understands your drive to make things different and better. This might be:

• A mentor who sees your potential not just to succeed within a system, but to reimagine it

• A colleague who shares your commitment to finding creative solutions

• Someone in your community who's walking a similar path of change 

The key is finding that one or two people who understand that your work isn't just about a job title or role, but about a deeper quest for meaningful change.

Building Your Circle of Support 

Then grow your connections into a trusted circle. The strongest circles of support often include people who:

• Ground you in your personal quest when systems try to pull you into compliance

• Remind you to find joy and pleasure in the work, not just struggle

• Challenge your assumptions and help you see new possibilities

• Support you in working from the periphery where real change happens

• Understand that making a difference and having a fulfilling life aren't mutually exclusive

Finding Your Edge People 

I find my edge people by tuning in to the conversations that make me a little crazy or uncomfortable. When I’ve dug into that response, I’ve learned that my reaction is an indicator that I need to allow that person to be a teacher. That we may be passionate about the same thing, but have very different perspectives on how to get there. That energizes me because I want to learn more, try something different, and stretch.

A participant in one of our leadership programs said something about this recently:

"This program made me feel incredibly uncomfortable in the beginning! After the first couple of sessions I knew that unpleasant feeling was a sign that I was ready for learning and growth. I had to take an honest look at myself and allow myself to be vulnerable, which is something that does not come easy for me. The academy has been a safe place to explore myself as a leader and get to know other leaders on a meaningful level."

~~Program Director, Maine 21st CCLC

Consider:

• Who energizes you when you talk about your vision for change?

• Who helps you see possibilities when systems feel rigid?

• Who reminds you that taking care of yourself is part of sustaining your impact?

• Who understands that sometimes the most powerful change happens at the margins?

The Power of Intentional Community 

This is exactly why we created the Comeback Leadership Series - because we've seen firsthand how transformative it can be when leaders find their circle of support. In our 8-week journey, you'll connect with other leaders who understand the importance of working from the edges, who are committed to creating meaningful change while maintaining their own wellbeing. You'll build relationships that go beyond traditional networking to create a genuine community of support and innovation.

The Invitation 

Unlike traditional networking advice that focuses on building extensive professional connections, I invite you to find your edge people - those who understand that change happens at the intersections and margins. These relationships aren't about career advancement; they're about sustaining your energy and clarity as you work toward meaningful change.

Your circle of support might be small, but if it's filled with people who understand your quest and support your journey of making things different, it's exactly what you need.

What resonates with you about finding your circle of support? I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you've found your edge people and how they've supported your changemaking journey. Share your story below or reach out to learn more about joining our community of leaders who are creating change from the edges.

Perspective

Like standing at the edge of a river, see both the details and the broader flow

Try This:

Map where you have room to experiment and influence change in your work.

Change often starts at the edges, where flexibility meets opportunity.

Presence

Find your center when everything is spinning

Try This:

Take three intentional breaks today to pause, breathe, and reset your focus.

In the pause between action and reaction lies our power to choose.

Pleasure

Let your natural enthusiasm fuel your leadership

Try This:

Notice which parts of your work make time fly by. Create space for more of them.

Energy flows where attention goes - especially when it's something you enjoy.

People

Build the web of relationships that sustains good work

Try This:

Connect with someone whose perspective challenges or inspires you.

Like a strong root system, relationships provide both stability and growth.

Performance

Honor the basics that keep you grounded

Try This:

Pay attention to sleep, water, movement, and nutrition - your foundation matters.

You can't pour from an empty cup. Taking care of basics keeps your cup full.

Possibility

See constraints as invitations to creativity

Try This:

When facing an obstacle, brainstorm three unexpected paths forward.

Every limit is a doorway to innovation, if we're willing to look differently.

Power

Expand your circle of influence through authentic engagement

Try This:

Identify where your voice or actions could help move something important forward.

True influence ripples outward from consistent, values-aligned action.

Ready to Begin?

Like a river finding its path, meaningful change begins with small shifts in the right direction. Choose one practice that speaks to your current challenges and start there. Each step builds momentum for the changes you want to see.

Traditional leadership frameworks often focus on what you need to do - skills to master, behaviors to adopt, or competencies to develop. They promise that if you follow certain steps or acquire specific abilities, you'll become a more effective leader. But these approaches can feel like adding more to your already full plate.

The Leadership Renewal Framework, developed by Jennifer Brady at Development Without Limits, takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than giving you more to do, it helps you identify where to direct your energy for maximum impact while maintaining your vitality. Through our work with hundreds of leaders across education, nonprofit, and social change sectors, we've observed that sustainable leadership isn't about doing more - it's about choosing wisely where to focus your attention and energy.

Drawing from research in positive psychology, organizational behavior, and systems thinking, including works by Dacher Keltner, Rita McGrath, and Donella Meadows, this framework addresses what traditional approaches often miss: the conditions that allow you to thrive while leading complex change. Over fifteen years of supporting leaders through significant challenges, we've seen that those who maintain their effectiveness and energy over time aren't necessarily doing more - they're being more intentional about where and how they engage.

These seven interconnected practices offer practical ways to navigate challenges while staying energized and focused on what matters most. Whether you're dealing with systemic constraints, organizational change, or personal burnout, this framework helps you find your path forward without sacrificing yourself in the process.

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]]>DWL’s 7P Leadership Revitalization FrameworkJennifer BradyFri, 13 Dec 2024 12:40:55 +0000https://www.developmentwithoutlimits.org/news/2024/12/13/when-life-hands-you-six-curveballs-a-story-of-resilience5b588674e749401bdaffd09e:5d414ffe89ce3b0001e17da4:675c2ab7b1d269633fc73564Have you ever seen those "top life stressors" lists? A few years back, I found myself living through six of the top twelve—all at once.

I was thriving then, or so I thought. Leading teams, driving change, working long hours because it felt meaningful. My calendar was full, my impact was clear, and my path seemed certain.

Then life decided to write a different story.

In rapid succession came the beautiful chaos of new babies, the heart-wrenching losses of beloved little ones, a big unexpected health challenge, marriage, a 500 mile move, and finally, a job loss that shook my professional identity to its core. It was a masterclass in resilience I never asked to take.

I remember riding in a car, en route to facilitate a seminar, when a well-meaning acquaintance said something that still echoes: "I knew someone this happened to... she was never the same. It was like something just broke inside her."

Those words landed like a punch. Not because they weren't true—I definitely wouldn't be the same. But because they missed the point entirely.

Sometimes life hands us multiple chapters at once. In this season of reflection, as we navigate a world that feels increasingly uncertain, I'm reminded that our greatest setbacks often contain the seeds of our most meaningful comebacks. That’s when I started reading about the Japanese art of kintsugi–golden joinery–that I shared in a recent post.

I chose not to be someone who lost herself. Instead, I became someone who found a deeper well of strength, a more grounded sense of purpose, and surprisingly, a clearer vision of leadership than I'd ever had before.

That journey became the foundation of the Comeback Leadership Series, where we help leaders transform their setbacks into launchpads for extraordinary growth. Not by pushing harder or doing more, but by rediscovering their innate resilience and reconnecting with what matters most.

As we close this year, I invite you to reflect:

• What if your current challenges aren't breaking points, but turning points?

• What if this moment of uncertainty is actually preparing you for your greatest contribution?

• What if your setback is setting you up for an extraordinary comeback?