Courageous Leadership in Complex Times
Edward Schaefer
Helping Leaders Navigate Strategy, Culture, and Change to Build Trust, Drive Impact, and Make Work Better
A Week of Complexities and Contradictions
Sometimes, there’s so much happening in the world that it’s hard to know where to begin. This week, I find myself grappling with the weight of events that seem to underscore both the best and worst of human potential. It’s the kind of week that leaves you pausing—not out of inaction, but out of sheer astonishment at the state of things.
On one hand, I’m reflecting on the dissonance between actions and leadership. Some of the most influential figures of our time seem to be openly flirting with the darkest parts of history, wielding their platforms irresponsibly. Whether it’s blatant displays of fascist symbolism or policies that dismantle the very foundations of democracy, one thing is clear: these are not examples of leadership. They’re lessons in what not to do—power without responsibility, ambition without accountability, and influence used for self-serving ends instead of the greater good.
But these aren’t just lessons about them; they’re lessons about us. Leadership isn’t only about the choices of those in charge—it’s also about how we respond. How do we react to what we see and hear? Do we trust our own eyes, ears, and instincts, or do we rationalize, excuse, or ignore? What excuses are we making, what behaviors are we permitting, and how are we showing up as leaders in our own lives? George Orwell wrote in 1984 that “the party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” That line lingers in my mind this week, a stark reminder to trust our perceptions and to hold steadfast to reality when the world seems bent on distorting it.
In the midst of all this, I found solace this weekend in a simple act of connection. My wife, our dog, and I spent a day driving to somewhere we’d never been, with no grand plans or expectations. We just went. And it was wonderful. Leadership, I’ve come to believe, is as much about knowing when to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with what grounds us as it is about bold action.
So, as we dive into this week’s themes—AI’s role in shaping the future, sustaining personal momentum, and advanced strategies for navigating the winter slump—I encourage us all to look inward as much as outward. Let these conversations prompt not just critical thinking but also self-reflection. How are we reacting? What values are guiding us? And what actions will we take to build the future we want to see?
The answers aren’t easy, but the questions are essential. Let’s explore them together.
Deep Dive: AI and the Future of Work – Beyond the Hype
This week marks the start of a new four-week series: AI and the Future of Work: Beyond the Hype. AI is everywhere, from the headlines we read to the tools we use daily. But as its adoption accelerates, so does the noise surrounding it. Is AI the answer to every problem, the harbinger of mass job displacement, or something else entirely? My goal is to cut through the noise and explore AI with clarity, curiosity, and balance.
Let’s start with some context. I believe AI is still climbing the peak of the hype cycle, with expectations inflated far beyond what the technology can currently deliver. Every company seems eager to proclaim that AI will revolutionize their industry, save money, and eliminate inefficiencies. But I can’t help but ask: what’s the cost of such blind enthusiasm? Are we rushing toward promises we can’t fulfill, at the expense of people, ethics, and long-term sustainability?
AI’s potential is vast, but it’s not the magical solution many hope it to be. From creating software to developing strategies or content, there’s an undeniable need for human involvement—at least for now. More importantly, if businesses are so focused on replacing people with AI for short-term profit, what happens to the system as a whole? If employees become redundant across industries, who will buy the products and services AI-powered companies are producing? Conversations about AI must also include broader societal implications, like rethinking employment structures and even exploring ideas like universal basic income.
The Focus
AI’s rapid adoption offers an opportunity to examine not only what’s possible but what’s responsible. Much like the leadership failures we’ve seen on a global stage, rushing into AI adoption without intentionality or ethical consideration risks harm, inequity, and broken trust. As leaders, it’s our role to question what we permit and challenge assumptions about the promises of technology.
Each day this week, I’ll explore a different facet of AI, combining research, real-world examples, and leadership insights to help make sense of this transformative technology:
Why This Matters
AI is not just a technological evolution—it’s a cultural and economic one. The way leaders engage with AI today will shape not just their businesses but the future of work, creativity, and equity. Leaders must balance the promises of AI with the responsibility to deploy it ethically and sustainably. This means asking hard questions about accountability, inclusivity, and the human element in innovation.
Like the reckless actions of certain high-profile figures that I discussed in the introduction, rushing headlong into AI without questioning its implications will lead us down a dangerous path. True leadership requires resisting the temptation to prioritize short-term gains over long-term responsibility.
Personal Thoughts
This series is deeply personal to me because it aligns with my broader belief about leadership: technology should be in service to people, not the other way around. AI has immense potential, but it cannot replace the empathy, creativity, and judgment that make us human. As leaders, we have a choice: to see AI as a tool that enhances human potential or as a shortcut to sidestep it.
How we choose to lead in this space reflects who we are—not just as professionals, but as people. Are we making excuses for shortcuts? Are we holding ourselves accountable for the consequences of our decisions? These are questions worth asking.
Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or optimistic about AI, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let’s explore how AI can shape a better future—one built on intentionality, equity, and collaboration.
Deep Dive: New Year, New Momentum – Refining and Accountability
This week marks the final stretch of my New Year, New Momentum series—a four-week journey designed to transform your resolutions into sustainable, actionable success. The series began with reflection and goal-setting, moved through habit-building and motivation, and now culminates in a focus on refinement and accountability.
It’s one thing to start the year strong, but how do you sustain that momentum as the months unfold? This week is all about taking a step back to evaluate, refine, and reinforce the systems you’ve built so far. Leadership and personal growth aren’t about sprinting from one achievement to the next; they’re about creating frameworks that allow for ongoing progress, even when the path gets bumpy.
The Focus: Fine-Tuning and Accountability
Refining and accountability are the cornerstones of sustainable success, both in leadership and personal growth. Just as we expect responsible leadership on a global scale, we need to practice it in our own lives by asking the hard questions: What’s holding me back? What am I excusing or ignoring in my habits? How is that impacting my ability to achieve my goals?
This week is about bringing intentionality to your systems and strategies. It’s not about perfection—it’s about being honest with yourself, embracing growth, and making thoughtful adjustments to stay aligned with your long-term vision.
Here’s what we’re covering this week:
Why This Matters
This final week ties everything together. Without reflection and accountability, even the best systems will falter. Growth is a dynamic process that requires regular adjustments and the courage to admit when something isn’t working.
Just as we discussed in the introduction, leadership—whether at a global level or in our personal lives—requires accountability. If we excuse our own lack of follow-through or avoid reflecting on our progress, we risk stagnation. Taking responsibility for our choices and refining our strategies isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a hallmark of intentional leadership.
By pausing to evaluate, recalibrate, and recommit to your vision, you’re modeling the kind of leadership we desperately need in a world that often prioritizes shortcuts over substance.
Personal Thoughts
For me, this week is a reminder that accountability starts with us. If we want to see integrity and responsibility in the world, we must first practice it in our own lives. That means being honest about what’s working, what’s not, and where we need to improve.
Refining your systems isn’t about admitting failure; it’s about embracing progress. It’s about taking the time to reflect on your habits and decisions with curiosity rather than judgment, and then taking intentional action to course-correct where needed.
This week, as you reflect on your progress, I encourage you to approach this process with compassion and courage. Remember, the systems you build today will support you long after the excitement of New Year’s resolutions fades. By leaning into refinement and accountability, you’re laying the foundation for success that’s not only sustainable but deeply aligned with who you want to be.
Let’s close out January strong and prepare for even greater things in February.
Deep Dive: Mastering the Winter Slump – Advanced Mood Management
The winter slump is a challenge many professionals face, especially during the darker, colder months when energy, motivation, and even mood can feel harder to sustain. We’re now entering Week 4 of my Mastering the Winter Slump series, where the focus shifts to Advanced Strategies for Mood Management.
This week is about going beyond the basics. We’ve already explored how to recognize the symptoms of seasonal challenges, implement immediate coping strategies, and even leverage the slower pace of winter for professional growth. Now, we’re diving into more sophisticated approaches—strategies rooted in science, psychology, and technology that can help you optimize your well-being and show up as your best self, even in the most difficult weeks of winter.
The Focus: Advanced Tools for Seasonal Well-Being
Managing the challenges of winter is a powerful reminder that resilience begins with intention. Just as leaders set the tone for their teams, we set the tone for ourselves by choosing how to respond to seasonal challenges. Winter isn’t just something to endure—it’s an opportunity to reflect on what grounds us, reconnect with our priorities, and take intentional steps to care for our energy and focus.
This week’s posts are designed to provide actionable tools and techniques to help you take charge of your mood and productivity during the winter months:
Why This Matters
Winter is not just a season to get through—it’s an opportunity to practice resilience, adaptability, and self-leadership. The tools we’re exploring this week aren’t about avoiding challenges; they’re about equipping yourself to face them with intention and focus.
For leaders, managing your own mood and energy is more than self-care—it’s an act of leadership. Your ability to stay grounded and intentional during difficult seasons sets the tone for your team and the environment around you. It’s a way of modeling resilience and showing that prioritizing well-being is not only acceptable but essential for long-term success.
Just as we discussed in the introduction, leadership—whether over a team or in your personal life—is about being intentional in how you respond to challenges. Avoiding or ignoring the realities of winter can lead to burnout or disconnection. Facing those realities head-on, with strategies rooted in care and purpose, allows you to thrive rather than simply endure.
Personal Thoughts
Winter reminds me of the duality of leadership: strength and vulnerability. Just as the world around us slows and reflects, it’s a time for us to lean into what grounds us and recharge with intention. Resilience doesn’t mean powering through without rest—it means showing up for yourself and others by being honest about what you need to thrive.
This week’s focus on advanced strategies is an invitation to reflect on how you’re showing up for yourself and your goals. Are you giving yourself the space to recalibrate? Are you creating the conditions for your own success and well-being? Small, intentional changes—whether it’s adjusting your schedule, improving your sleep, or leaning on a network—can have a profound impact on how you move through the season.
As you navigate the winter months, remember that self-care is not indulgent—it’s foundational. By prioritizing your energy and focus, you’re not only setting yourself up for success but also creating a ripple effect of resilience and intention for those around you.
This week, let’s embrace the opportunity to lead ourselves with purpose and care, knowing that how we respond now shapes the tone for what’s ahead. Let’s not just survive winter—let’s thrive through it.
Closing Thoughts: Building Resilience and Leading with Intention
This week has reminded me how vital it is to remain grounded in the face of complexity and contradictions. The challenges we see in the world—from the recklessness of some leaders to the rapid, hype-driven adoption of technologies like AI—are opportunities for reflection and intentional action. They force us to ask: What kind of leader do I want to be? How do I respond to the chaos around me?
These questions aren’t just theoretical. They show up in the decisions we make daily—whether it’s evaluating the ethical use of AI in our organizations, refining our personal strategies for growth, or taking small, deliberate steps to thrive through the winter slump. Leadership isn’t only about influencing others; it’s also about holding ourselves accountable for how we react, what we believe, and what we’re willing to stand for.
If there’s one thread connecting this week’s focus areas, it’s the idea that leadership begins with clarity and intention. As we explore AI’s ethical challenges, we’re reminded that leadership requires asking the hard questions: What is the long-term impact of these decisions? Who is affected, and how do we ensure fairness? When refining our personal momentum, leadership means embracing progress over perfection and staying honest about what’s working and what isn’t. And as we navigate the winter slump, it means modeling resilience by prioritizing our well-being, reconnecting with our values, and leaning on our support networks.
Most importantly, leadership is about staying grounded in what’s real. It’s about trusting your instincts, seeing things as they are, and resisting the temptation to rationalize harmful behaviors—whether they’re our own or someone else’s. As George Orwell warned, rejecting the evidence of your own eyes and ears is the quickest way to lose your footing. This week, I encourage you to trust what you see, stay curious, and lead with courage—even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
Take this week as an opportunity to pause, recalibrate, and recommit. Whether you’re grappling with big questions about technology, refining your systems for success, or simply striving to stay positive through winter’s challenges, every small step matters. Leadership isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about showing up with intention and integrity.
As January comes to a close, let’s carry forward the lessons of reflection, resilience, and accountability into the months ahead. Together, we can navigate complexity, stay true to our values, and lead in ways that make a meaningful impact.
Let’s make it a week of clarity, growth, and purpose.
Warm regards,
Executive Leadership Coach | Agile Ideation
#LeadershipInsights #ResilientLeadership #AIandEthics #IntentionalLeadership
My biggest leadership challenge has been responding to those around me who feel enveloped in despair and hopelessness - in part because, it's January and dark in the northern hemisphere and in part because of the current events in the US. I'm finding that being more active in my listening, focusing on empathy and leading with grace is really important right now.