Healing humanity: values-based leadership. Changing the world, one workplace at a time.

"How would you feel about heading over to Christchurch this week to support the NZ firm, Kate?"

I have spent my career supporting individuals, leaders and organisations navigating times of challenge. I have also devoted myself to developing capability and cultures to enable people and teams to be at their best. I have attended remote mine sites after workplace fatalities; sat with individuals and teams as they experience the deepest levels of despair. I have felt pride and joy as I've watched cultural change unfold as conversations that were previously taboo become more widely accepted and encouraged.

In all that I've done, and all that I've seen, I have never witnessed what I saw last week. And I will be forever changed as a consequence.

I watched a group of leaders during a time of deep pain show the kind of leadership for which our global community is yearning. I saw vulnerability. I saw poise. I saw complex decision making at speed. I saw teamwork. I saw care. I saw leaders living their, and the organisations values. And while I watched that, I saw an answer to how humanity can heal.

Across the world we have watched Jacinda Ardern and praised her courage, her humanity and her leadership. She has displayed the qualities many of us admire and wish were more evident in our society. We feel hopeless and helpless as we look to the political leadership on offer and wonder how a positive path can be forged.

I learned last week that we are not as powerless as we might feel. The workplace village is somewhere our collective talents and energies can have transformational impact. The workplace village is a place where people come together, learn, grow and feel connection and healing when we see leaders living values of which we feel proud.

As the corporate world responds to the most complex and significant challenges of our time, I feel optimistic that we will see more leaders such as those I met at PwC Christchurch last week in more and more workplaces. I feel hopeful that through values-based leadership, our workplace villages can create healing and a ripple effect will create substantive change in our global community over the years ahead.

And I feel thankful that when asked if I could head over to Christchurch to support the NZ firm that I replied "It would be an honour and a privilege, Helen."