Why a blog? Why now?

Courage in leadership is a topic that I have been interested in for quite a few years. I can’t pinpoint the exact start of my interest in it, but likely sparked by a strong desire to do the right thing, even if that wasn’t necessarily the easiest thing. That, and observing people who I considered in positions where they should do the right thing, not doing so. There is a whole discussion there about what is right, but I will leave that to later.

I used to blog, much earlier on in my career, then I stopped. I am slightly nervous now about restarting, partly due to the subject and topics that I am keen to write about, because committing words to paper and sharing views feels slightly exposing, plus I am an introvert!

You would be justified in asking why, if I am concerned about the subject matter would I start a blog? Well, it seems an obvious first step exploring and writing about courage in leadership to start with me. Talking and generating discussions about the challenges of courage in leadership, exploring related topics in more depth and thinking about behaviours that impact on organisations cultures require personal courage.

Those of you who know me or who I’ve worked closely with, will know that I quite often speak up when needed. I suspect some would say I am comfortable speaking up, but this is not actually true, it is rarely comfortable, but it is a choice.

I started a PhD programme in January, if I get through (by that I mean get through the necessary gateways as well as maintain the determination and resilience to continue), I will gain a PhD in Organisational Change. That would be a wonderful thing to have of course, but what is much more important to me is ensuring that whilst I embark on this journey, I take the learning and use this to support others and impact a wider community by sharing thinking and promoting debate. That’s really the point of the blog and why I want to do it.

Embarking on a PhD makes you think extremely hard about a variety of things, including things you do not really want to think about. I have changed this year, perhaps not obviously to the outside world, but in my thinking, approach, and humility. I have had my eyes, ears and heart opened, exposed to things I simply have not been in the past. With that comes a degree of vulnerability which takes getting used to.

My thoughts are still in the chaotic phase (not a formal phase of a PhD, but it should be!), they are still emerging, as I try and wrap my head round a whole new language of, quite frankly, unnecessarily difficult jargon, which distinguishes academics from the rest of us (and creates silos). Seriously, much of it I cannot pronounce, let alone remember what it means. I have had to start my own dictionary and no, I am not joking.

I have already learnt a huge amount, and it is learning that I am keen to share. I'm keen to discuss courage and related topics, generate thinking and perhaps even help people along the way. Hence this blog.