Leading Through Political and Organizational Upheaval
In a moment defined by political backlash, burnout, and fear-driven retreat, the question is no longer whether we need strong leadership - it’s what kind of leadership can truly hold through the storm.
At the nINA Collective’s October CHOIR Conversation, practitioners reflected on what it takes to develop leaders who can guide teams and communities in times like these: leaders who don’t just survive the turbulence, but reshape the structures that created it.
“Developing leaders right now isn’t about charisma or control,” one panelist noted. “It’s about cultivating the skills and stamina to stay grounded in justice when the ground itself is shifting.”
Leadership as Collective Practice
Across the conversation, one idea resonated deeply: leadership is not a title, it’s a practice. It’s something we do with each other, not something we do to others. In workplaces where fear of political scrutiny has led to silence or retraction, that distinction matters.
“We’re not developing leaders to replicate the systems we’re in,” another speaker shared. “We’re developing leaders to co-create something different—something that feels like freedom.”
Developing leaders in this climate requires investing in more than technical expertise. It means building capacity for emotional intelligence, accountability, and relational care to sustain collective work under pressure. It also means making space for people to be human, to learn, to unlearn, and to recover together.
Navigating the Political Moment with Integrity
This is not a neutral time for leadership. The political attacks on equity and belonging work have made courage itself a leadership skill. Leaders are being asked to navigate risk while protecting their teams, communities, and values. The tension between safety and truth, between care and confrontation, is where today’s most essential leadership work happens.
Participants reflected on the importance of creating structures of mutual support, where leaders don’t have to carry the burden alone. Peer networks, coaching circles, and community spaces, like our CHOIR Conversations, help leaders remember that their struggle is shared, and that they are part of something larger than any single institution.
Investing in the Long Game
Capacity-building in this moment isn’t just about surviving the next election cycle or organizational restructuring. It’s about cultivating practices and cultures that sustain transformation over time. The skills we need like deep listening, collective decision-making, political analysis, and care-centered planning take time and practice.
When organizations invest in leadership this way, they aren’t just developing individuals. They are creating ecosystems of resilience.
At nINA Collective, we believe that leadership development must be rooted in justice, care, and community. If you’re ready to explore how to build and sustain this kind of leadership in your own organization, join our Community of Practice a space where we learn together, share tools, and practice leading for the world we’re building next.