A Field Guide to the Unruly Art of Leadership

I have spent my career protecting spaces. Not because someone assigned me the role. Not because it was convenient or rewarded. But because I could see what was needed—and once you see, you can’t look away.

I have protected structures built to outlast me. I have protected conditions I knew I would never personally benefit from. I have protected spaces where I was not fully welcome—and never would ...

 Some people have always known they were different—restless, questioning, wired for exploration. They never fit neatly into the leadership boxes offered to them.

Others learned to hide it. They adapted, put on the trappings of traditional leadership, followed the rules, played it safe. They did what was expected. And yet—something felt off.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s a different way to lea...

Hybrid work isn’t just about flexible schedules and Zoom fatigue. It’s about trust—or, more often, the lack of it.

When half the team’s remote and the other half’s bonding over office bagels, it’s easy for people to feel disconnected, misaligned, or just plain left out. Lack of intention can magnify the sense of disconnect. 

But here’s the thing: trust isn’t a “nice to have” in hybrid teams. It’...

What do forests and organizations have in common? Both live or die by their networks.

Beneath the surface of every thriving forest lies its secret to survival: the mycelium. This vast underground fungal network doesn’t just connect roots—it redistributes nutrients, fortifies resilience, and sustains life itself. It’s not optional; it’s essential.

Now, imagine that soil is dead—compacted, strippe...

Picture this: a team retreat in the great outdoors. There’s a roaring campfire, a trust fall lined up, and someone’s brought cupcakes—because who doesn’t love cupcakes? But there’s also a dog.

Not a friendly, waggy-tailed dog. This one’s growling, pacing, and snapping at anyone who gets too close. It bit someone earlier. It bit someone last year too.

You can pass out cupcakes, start the active l...

Leadership as we know it is incomplete.

It’s not bad. It’s not broken. But it’s missing something.

We’ve spent decades defining leadership as authority, decision-making, and vision. We’ve bolted on management to keep things running and, when absolutely necessary, thrown in a half-hearted nod to followership. But we left out one of the most powerful roles of all—the role of the Guide.

And withou...