A quiet leadership journey
- Written by: Clare Cable — The Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland — Chief Executive and Nurse Director
- Published: 3rd March 2021
Clare Cable from QNIS shares her reflections on Julian Stodd's quiet leadership workshop at the ALLIANCE Digital Gathering.
Quiet Leadership is perhaps a curious concept. Julian Stodd shared some of his thoughts this recent work at the ALLIANCE Digital Gathering last week. I was fortunate to take part in the second prototype of the Quiet Leadership learning journey before Christmas and it was a great opportunity to reflect and question some of my assumptions.
Why quiet leadership? I have never considered myself a particularly loud leader, but what we are being encouraged to explore is leadership through the smallest of actions. We are challenged to develop our awareness so we can constantly rebalance who we are. These ‘smallest of actions’ are so important and yet so tricky in our physically distanced (yet digitally overwhelming) world right now. What are the things we do that nourish the system, whether that’s our workplace, our family, or our community? And what are the things that we take away? As we deepen our insight by reflecting on these questions we can explore balance.
Quiet leadership encompasses four central qualities:
- Humility in our mindset
- Kindness in our approach
- Fairness in our actions
- Grace in letting go
I have been following Julian Stodd’s work on social leadership for several years and it has been hugely influential on the work of my organisation, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland. We are a small charity which supports, develops and inspires Scotland’s community nurses and midwives to become catalysts for social change. We help them build on their clinical expertise to become an active force for a healthier, kinder, fairer, greener Scotland.
Right now community nurses, like so many others, are stretched to breaking point, working really hard to keep people out of hospital and support those who are isolated and distressed through the pandemic. The last twelve months have taken their toll on Scotland’s health and care workforce, and much of our work at QNIS has been to create safe spaces where nurses can show up however they are feeling.
Julian Stodd talks about radical connectivity; connecting in ways that are democratised, fluid, and operating beyond the oversight, or control, of any formal power. These are the connections we are seeking to create and nurture.
He talks about the ‘choreography of welcome and engagement’, and I have been exploring what that might mean. We all know that stepping into a digital space, particularly with strangers can feel overwhelming. At QNIS, we have been on a steep learning curve about how to create or curate those spaces, finding gentle ways to enable people to check in and feel welcomed just as they are. For our forthcoming online transformational development programme, we have sent out welcome boxes. These contain course materials, books to read, a blank journal, drawing paper, crayons, pens, snacks and an aromatherapy candle. The social media response to this ‘smallest of actions’ has been really lovely to witness, and I hope it goes some way to providing a thoughtfully choregraphed welcome to this nine month journey together.
In the midst of this collective trauma our need to belong is even stronger. At Julian Stodd’s workshop session we were broken into pairs to consider: What does it mean to belong? For me, the last twelve months have enabled me to connect in new ways across the globe, finding allies and kindred spirits through new online networks. I am part of many communities and networks, and I belong in different ways to those groups. It was really helpful to consider how we belong and why it is important to us. I would recommend it as a journaling question.
Our next challenge was to consider another big question: What power do you hold? In the face of a global pandemic its easy to feel utterly powerless, but the question evoked some fascinating discussion in our breakout pairs. Being thoughtful about how we use our power with humility, kindness, fairness and grace has to be central to our collective recovery moving forward.
So my take away questions for reflection from Julian Stodd’s excellent session at the ALLIANCE Digital Gathering are for all of us who would like to develop our quiet leadership:
- How do I hold my power?
- How do I create spaces where people belong?
End of page.
You may also like:
Kelly Muir reflects on the barriers for people with no recourse to public funds when accessing the right to health.
Continue readingSelf Management Programme Manager Grace reflects on the fifteenth anniversary of Gaun Yersel, the Self Management Strategy for Scotland.
Continue readingAutomated reminder emails to users have started, following the most recent technical improvements to ALISS.
Continue readingFor many the nightmare of Long Covid is something they live with every day.
Continue readingPromoting rights awareness through accessible information and the voice of lived experience.
Continue readingThe third sector’s economic contribution and development seems to be too often overlooked.
Continue readingDigital Assistant Director, Chris Mackie reflects how the lack of an appropriate sticker led to the destruction of medical records.
Continue reading"Because no one put a sticker on them."
Continue readingWhy it matters to you to participate in the public consultation on 'A draft outline Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use'.
Continue readingDr Tony Robertson reflects on how we make the right to health a reality for everyone.
Continue readingOver 12 million people live with Congenital Heart Disease globally with a population of 20,000 in Scotland.
Continue readingRory Chapman (Development Officer) reflects on the What Matters to You National Networking Event
Continue readingGiving unique insights into individual's lives, experiences, needs, and sense of character.
Continue readingReflections on a Self Management Reflective Practice (SMRP) session, from a Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice and Support Practitioner.
Continue readingLucy highlights some ALLIANCE human rights activity from this year and to mark Human Rights Day 2023.
Continue readingChief Executive of Scottish Care, Donald Macaskill, critically reflects on the Winter Preparedness Plan.
Continue readingCalum reflects on the Community Partnership Conference 2023 in Inverness, which was built on trusting relationships and partnership working.
Continue readingSelf Management Network Scotland members Foundation for Positive Mental Health on how their free app can help with workforce wellbeing.
Continue readingHannah Tweed asks, “what next?” and calls for action from Scottish Government on the findings of the National Audiology Review.
Continue reading"Modern football clubs have a responsibility to engage with and take care of the communities they represent".
Continue readingMark Ballard outlines writes that it is time for the Scottish Government to act on the National Audiology Review
Continue readingCalum reflects on the Design HOPES launch event and the value that the third sector can add to the potentially world-leading project.
Continue readingSenior Development Officer for the Children and Young People Programme reflects on the current nature of funding in the sector.
Continue readingDirect support to disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers would be wiser use of funds.
Continue readingThe essential role integration has to play in delivering the Scottish Government's Value Based Health and Care Action Plan.
Continue reading