When the Water Shifts A Year-End Reflection on Leadership, Currents, and What Comes Next
"Leadership isn’t about controlling the current—it’s about learning how to move with it, with clarity, courage, and care.”
🌊 From above, it looks almost still. But from the water, it’s anything but.
There are stacked seams, pressure lines, and confused currents—fresh and saltwater meeting, negotiating, pushing against one another. The tide tables may promise predictability, but the water tells a different story. Especially near river mouths. Especially during heavy rain. Especially in places like Deception Pass, Washington, where assumptions dissolve the moment you enter the flow.
🌀This year felt like that.
On the surface, organizations were told to stay the course, follow the plan, wait for the tide to turn. But those of us in the work—leaders, staff, boards, communities—knew better. The currents didn’t behave as expected. Funding shifted. Workforce dynamics changed. Leadership demands intensified. What worked before didn’t always work now.
And that’s not failure. That’s reality.
“Leaders weren’t failing — they were navigating the unexpected.”
🧭 What 2025 Taught Us
At Lead By Change, this year reaffirmed something I’ve known my entire career: The most powerful forces shaping organizations are often invisible until you’re in them.
Culture. Trust. Fear. Fatigue. Hope. Leadership presence.
We watched organizations wrestle with uncertainty—not just external pressures, but internal questions:
How do we lead when clarity is incomplete?
How do we care for people while managing limited resources?
How do we stay mission-aligned when the environment keeps shifting beneath us?
The leaders who endured—and in many cases grew—were not the ones with the most polished strategies. They were the ones willing to pause, recalibrate, and lead differently.
They understood that when currents change, you don’t paddle harder in the same direction.
You adjust your stance.
🔍 The Present Moment: Where We Are Now
We are closing the year in a space that demands honesty.
Many organizations are tired. Many leaders are carrying more than they show. Systems built for stability are being asked to operate in volatility. And yet—this moment is not without opportunity.
This is a moment for a mental pivot.
A shift from control to awareness.
From certainty to responsiveness.
From leading people to leading with them.
Leadership today requires ~
🎯 Presence more than posture | 👂 Listening more than declaring | ⚖️ Decision-making instead of reactive movement
“The leaders who endured—and in many cases grew—weren’t the ones with the most polished strategies. They were the ones willing to pause, recalibrate, and lead differently.”
🔮 The Future: Leading Into What’s Next
As we step into 2026, I believe the next chapter of leadership will be shaped by those who:
💬 Lead with emotional intelligence as a core competency
🧠 Invest in people—not just performance
🔧 Build systems that can bend without breaking
🤝 Collaborate across organizations rather than compete in isolation
🔄 Prepare the next generation through intentional succession—not last-minute transitions
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about leading wiser.
The future belongs to leaders who understand that empowerment is not a soft skill—it’s a strategic one. That culture is not an accessory—it’s infrastructure. And that resilience is built long before the storm arrives.
🤝 My Commitment—And Our Call Forward
As the Principal Consultant of Lead By Change, this year challenged me in ways I didn’t fully expect. I had to pivot. I had to pause. But even in the gaps, I found clarity. I’m still here—grateful, grounded, and moving forward with a refreshed conviction to serve.
Some doors closed, yes—but others are opening, wider and more aligned with the kind of work I know I’m called to do: helping leaders lead with integrity, empathy, and strategy.
Going forward, my vision is even clearer:
Lead in ways that honor both people and purpose.
Stop pretending leadership is linear—when the waters are not.
Build communities of practice—where wisdom, support, and strategy are shared freely.
As we close this year, my invitation to you is simple, but not easy: Pause. Reflect. Reset. And rise—on purpose.
🌱 Looking Ahead to 2026
The year ahead will focus on building spaces that develop resilient leaders—ready to meet complexity with clarity.
🔧 Here's what LBC will be offering
Executive & leadership coaching for emerging and experienced leaders
Workshops & trainings on culture, stamina, and alignment
Panel conversations that foster learning and community
Facilitated strategy sessions for recalibrating how people lead
These spaces aren’t about performance metrics—they’re about presence, preparation, and power.
📩 Want to bring LBC to your organization in 2026?
We are now scheduling:
💼 Leadership coaching/trainings/workshops
🤝 Collaborative capacity-building partnerships/roundtables
👉 Send a message to LGMadison@LeadByChange4Life.com or connect with us on the website.
