Courageous Leadership Interview with Alessa Catterall

• Written by: Alessa Catterall —
• Published: 19th October 2022

Alessa discusses what makes a good leader, her inspirations, and advice she has for others.

What does leadership mean to you? (What does it look and feel like?)

Leadership is a kind of way-finding. It is the ability to identify and forge new paths forward, and to bring others along with us on that journey. It has little to do with commanding or directing, particularly since – in my experience – people have a tendency to observe and follow actions more than words. Through our speech, we can guide others; but through action we can actually demonstrate new possibilities and pathways in a way that is visible and tangible.

A core defining trait of good leadership is a care for others; you can’t lead if you don’t value the lives and dreams of those following you. Many of the formal leadership positions in our society are seated within systems, and increasingly we’re seeing many of those systems fail the people they ought to serve – a good example of this is medical systems, in both the public and private sectors, which fundamentally do not function well for the patients they were designed to care for. Individuals are more important than rules. We need to create space and flex around the definitions we use to structure our society and our lives, because most of us are simply too expansive to be boxed in; and inevitably, there are those whose lives and freedoms are being lost to the lines we’ve used to set and define the bounds of our world. So one of the things we must do is to illuminate the places where systems clash with people, endeavouring to recenter people over mechanisms and bureaucracy, so that we can find or create new pathways forwards.

Good leadership means that we can all find ourselves in a better world together. That last part is vital: together. Many of the things we create, whether it be art, or a better, more equitable society, are collaborative. That’s why it is crucially important to uplift the voices of others, particularly those who are marginalised. This is something I’m especially passionate about in my work as a producer and a teacher – making space for others in which they can grow, create, and dream.

What personal values and principles are important to you? (Is being yourself important?)

Since the age of 16, I’ve focused on love as a guiding principle. bell hooks describes love as “a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust.” I think that sums up very well some of the core qualities of a good leader.

Truth and integrity are also important. Being oneself, and speaking one’s truth, is certainly a part of that. A lot of good can be achieved simply by living authentically in the world, and allowing other people to witness that, to draw encouragement and inspiration for themselves from it. Furthermore, when we are not true to ourselves, that undermines every aspect of our lives, often in ways that are subtle, but profound. Being openly and visibly true to ourselves, of course, comes with some measure of vulnerability.

Vulnerability is central to how I aspire to live my life. As a trans person, being vulnerable is almost unavoidable at this particular juncture in our history. I think, because of that, it’s a truth we deeply understand, and we have the capacity to share that with others. Beyond being something that opens us up to personal pain and risk, vulnerability is also vital to deep connection. It is such a powerful state of being, because if you allow yourself to occupy that space, it encourages others to do so, too; and that is a kind of leadership that often opens up space for alternative possibilities, and can give some freedom to move within difficult conversations in a way that allows for constructive change.

What can make it difficult to be a courageous leader and what helps/would help you to overcome these challenges?

To continue from that last point, I think a lot of the challenges we face come down to vulnerability, or rather an unwillingness to be vulnerable. It can be profoundly uncomfortable, to be vulnerable, all soft and exposed, but in our work it’s absolutely certain that it will happen at some point. When we need to be open about the things we’re struggling with, so that we can ask for the support we need; when we’ve made a mistake and need to own that; when there is a need for us to share sensitive information, or to break difficult news, or speak truth to power – the circumstances are myriad, but navigating vulnerability and the related fears that often come along with that is its own challenge. This is especially so because some of us have internalised the idea that vulnerability equates to weakness. This is absolutely false. Vulnerability is a demonstration of strength. A willingness to engage with vulnerability really helps. So does a commitment to kindness, openness, and honest communication.

Throughout your journey, what or who, has inspired or influence your style of leadership?

A great deal of my inspiration comes from artists, particularly those whose perspectives are radical and wildly variant – even deviant – from the norm, who see the world in uniquely different ways.

I admire Björk for that reason. For me, her music evokes a powerful change in perspective, and she seems to occupy space in a really soft, kind way. In an interview with Estonian minimalist composer Arvo Pärt, she observes that music can have openness and space within it, such that the listener may actually be able to live inside it, to feel at home in there. I think that lesson transcribes well to our lives as a whole – that we require breathing space – and also to leadership and the way we organise our society. We need to make space for everyone.

I’m also inspired by Sami singer, songwriter, and activist Sofia Jannok. Her music has an astounding, encouraging, spacious beauty, but she also uses her voice to speak truth to power in a way that has a directness, but also a poetic slant which helps to encourage a perspective shift. One thing she said in particular stands out to me: that when we are making decisions about the future, it’s necessary to think 100 years ahead, to how our actions in the present will affect our children and grand-children in the future.

Sofia, Björk, and Pärt all have this soft style of leadership in common. It is so gentle that it is barely noticeable. I think that’s important to note; that good leadership can often be invisible.

What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to become a courageous leader?

The most important thing is to listen. Be receptive, flexible, and open to alternative possibilities. If you are struggling with something, pause, breathe, relax, take a step back, and see if a different approach presents itself. Listen to others, because there is such a wealth of knowledge, beauty, and beingness outside of yourself. Please also listen to yourself. Your voice matters. Trust your own inner voice to guide you, even when the clamour of the world tries to drown it out. Trust yourself. Listen to your mind and body, too. Taking the time to rest, to do things that restore you and feed your spirit, is so important. As the saying goes: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Alessa Raine Catterall (she/they) is an artist, poet, and educator. Her poem “Kissing Stars” describes the radical experience of finding love as a trans woman within societies that are profoundly unkind to those who live outside established norms and conventions; and her song “The Line” commemorates the trans and gender non-conforming people lost every year to violence, suicide, and systemic injustice. She is currently a member of the Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights Leadership Panel.  She also has an MA in Music and the Environment from the University of the Highlands and Islands, and a BA in Music from the University of Aberdeen.

This opinion piece is part of the Courageous Leadership series which profiles leaders in health and social care across Scotland. The series, part of the ALLIANCE’s Health and Social Care Academy programme, asks what Courageous Leadership means, delves into what makes great leaders, and looks at the journeys toward leadership roles.

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