At some point in every school leader’s journey, a quiet question emerges:
What will I leave behind?
It doesn’t shout for attention amidst the daily demands of school life. But it whispers in the stillness of early mornings or the final moments of a long school day.
In Learning to Walk in the Dark, I reflect on the times when life demanded that I go beyond what I thought I knew—when I had to dig deep into an inner well of wisdom to navigate uncertainty. It’s in these moments that leadership is truly tested, not in the bright, easy days but in the darker, more complex ones. It’s in these moments that I believe that the legacy of inner leadership is shaped.
The 5 C’s of Inner Leadership: A Framework for Vocational Vitality
So, how do we ensure that we lead in a meaningful way that impacts those whose lives we touch? How do we nurture the next generation of leaders while staying deeply connected to our own purpose?
The answer lies in who we are as leaders—our inner life, our capacity to lead from a place of depth and integrity. This is where the 5 C’s of Inner Leadership that I speak about in Learning to Walk in the Dark come in:
- Curiosity – The ability to stay open, ask deep questions, and explore new ways of leading, learning, and growing.
- Commitment – The resolve to keep going, even when the journey is challenging, staying true to your purpose and values.
- Courage – The willingness to act with integrity, even when it’s hard, and to stand up for what truly matters.
- Compassion – Leading with kindness, seeing the humanity in others, and creating spaces where people feel valued.
- Connection – The deep awareness that leadership is not a solo journey but one that thrives in relationships—with ourselves, others, and a greater purpose.
When school leaders stay connected to these five qualities, something profound happens. Their vocational vitality—that deep sense of purpose and energy for the work—remains alive. And when that happens, their leadership doesn’t just shape the present—it echoes into the future.
Good Ancestors: The Leaders Who Stay With Us
We often think of legacy as something that comes at the end of a journey. But true legacy is woven into everyday moments—into the conversations, decisions, and acts of leadership that shape a school’s culture.
Every school leader is, in essence, a good ancestor in the making. The way you show up now—how you embody curiosity, commitment, courage, compassion, and connection—will live on in the leaders you nurture.
Because one day, the students in your care and the staff you support will step forward as leaders themselves. And when they do, the question you must ask is, “ Will they carry forward a model of leadership that is transactional and depleted? Or will they remember a leader who led with wisdom, humanity, and depth?”
To find out more about ‘Learning to Walk in the Dark’, click here.
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