Sometimes leadership starts before anything is said.
Before words, before plans, before clarity, there’s presence.
We bring our nervous system into the room.
Our breath. Our tension. Our stillness.
And even when we are silent, others are tuning in.
What I Noticed in Uncertainty
Recently, I was in a situation where movement was restricted, passports were taken, and no information was given.
We stood for hours under the sun, surrounded by police and military vehicles, unsure of what would happen next.
I took in what was happening around me. The shift in different people’s posture. The change in tone. The boldness in verbal and physical statements, discomfort, concern of the uncertainty and instability.
I felt the alertness in my own body too, a subtle rise in my chest, a readiness and alongside it, a steadiness.
The Impact of Inner Work
That steadiness didn't just happen.
It came from years of practice, learning to stay with myself, to track what's happening in the space without being pulled into it, and to lead from presence when certainty isn't available.
I share this not to say look at me, but to show what this kind of inner work can make possible, especially when things are unclear, high-stakes, or emotionally charged.
This is the inner work of steady leadership.
Not a performance. A practice.
One that lives just as much in everyday uncertainty as it does in moments of crisis.
Leadership Reflection Journal Page
This week’s journal invites you to tune into how uncertainty shows up in your body and how your presence might be shaping the space around you, before any words are spoken.
Click here to download your editable journal page.
With you,
Linda
Touching Distance | Within Reach
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