We Are Building the Leaders Our Future Requires
Every so often, an organization experiences a moment that quietly, but unmistakably, shapes its trajectory. Not because it is loud. Not because it is ceremonial. But because it reflects a deliberate choice about who we are… and who we are becoming.
The first week of February was one of those moments for 9th Way. We welcomed the inaugural cohort of 9th Way Leadership University, beginning with an opening dinner that created space for genuine connection before the real work began. By the time we gathered again for our closing Lead Forward Breakfast, joined by our CEO, Steve, something had shifted. Not just knowledge. Not just capability. Expectation.
Because when an organization chooses to invest deeply in leadership, it signals something important: We are not leaving our future to chance. We are building it.
And this article?
This article is about future you. At 9th Way, leadership is not reserved for those with direct reports. It belongs to anyone willing to take ownership of their impact.
Leadership Begins Long Before Someone Is Watching
For three days, the cohort leaned into the kind of work that cannot be rushed and cannot be simulated – the work of becoming more self-aware, more adaptable, and more intentional in how they lead. This was not traditional training. It was leadership formation. And it began where real leadership always does.
Lead Self.
Day One asked our leaders to demonstrate the courage to look inward – to better understand how they are wired, how their experiences have shaped them, and how those patterns show up in their leadership whether invited or not. Through MBTI exploration, reflection on significant emotional experiences (ACE, BCE, PCE), and meaningful dialogue around generational perspectives, participants were reminded that leadership maturity begins with self-understanding. One reflection captured this truth powerfully:
“Understanding how an individual perceives themselves and the world around them – and how well they are supported to their strengths – is a direct contributor to the success of that person and the team.”
Another offered a reminder that many leaders spend years learning:
“Vulnerability is powerful and can really be a strength.”
Self-aware leaders create stronger teams. Steadier environments. Greater trust. Leadership does not begin when others decide to follow you. It begins the moment you decide to understand yourself.
Great Leaders Do Not Default – They Adapt
If Day One cultivated awareness, Day Two expanded responsibility. Because once a leader understands themselves, the next question naturally follows:
What does leadership require of me for the people I serve?
At 9th Way, we reject one-size-fits-all leadership. People are not interchangeable and leadership should never be transactional. Our cohort examined the differences that shape how individuals operate every day:
- How they gather and interpret information
- How they make decisions
- How they approach structure, deadlines, and change
- Where they draw energy
- How they prefer to communicate and collaborate
The conversation moved beyond personal style toward something far more consequential…leadership adaptability.
One participant captured the shift beautifully:
“I now understand that leadership should be personalized for each person and communication is a part of that.”
Another reflected a mindset that signals true leadership evolution:
“Differences in others are not areas where we need to find a least common denominator but really tools to make a more complete set.”
Not obstacles. Strengths. And perhaps most importantly, leaders left with commitments… not just insights:
“Listen more and try to align responses so communication may be better received.”
This is the posture of a leader who is growing. We also grounded our discussion in Tuckman’s stages of team development, reinforcing a simple but often overlooked truth: Strong teams are guided into existence by leaders willing to meet them in each stage of growth.
Patience matters. Clarity matters. Consistency matters. And our people are worth that effort.
Leadership Is Ultimately an Act of Stewardship
By Day Three, the aperture widened again – from self, to team, to something even larger.
Lead the Mission.
Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a grounding framework, we explored what people truly require in order to perform at their highest levels – and the profound responsibility leaders carry in creating those conditions. The marbles reminded us that our time and attention are finite. The feathers reminded us that leadership carries weight – and influence. And the stories shared throughout the day reminded us of something essential:
Leadership is deeply human work.
One reflection captured the heart of leadership in a single sentence:
“Work to keep people safer from their fears and their limitations.”
That is not management. That is stewardship. Another participant left better prepared for one of leadership’s defining responsibilities:
“How to approach and navigate difficult conversations through others’ experiences.”
Because protecting culture requires courage. It requires clarity. It requires standards. At 9th Way, we believe standards are an act of care. We set the bar high not to make work harder – but because our people deserve great leadership. And we will not allow anything less than great.
And one member of the inaugural cohort said something that stopped us in our tracks:
“This course was profound.”
Not informative.
Not helpful.
Profound.
That is not accidental. That is intentional design.
A Moment That Signals Our Future
As we closed the week together at the Lead Forward Breakfast, one thing was unmistakably clear: This cohort did more than attend a program. They modeled what leadership growth looks like. When asked if they felt more prepared to lead at the next level, the response was immediate:
“Absolutely.”
“Yes — more prepared.”
“Absolutely!”
One leader summarized the experience simply:
“9WLU is an opportunity to connect and grow.”
Exactly. Because leadership is not a destination. It is a continuous becoming. And now, the next cohort is forming. If you read this and felt something – curiosity, conviction, even a quiet nudge – pay attention to that.
This is about the leader you are becoming. This is about future you.
Whether you currently lead a team, influence a project, or simply want to grow in how you show up every day – if you are ready to stretch, to examine your patterns, to sharpen your adaptability, and to deepen your stewardship — talk to your manager or team lead right away. Seats are intentionally limited. The conversations are real. The growth is meaningful.
This is not a class you “attend.”
It is work you choose.
Why This Matters — Now and For Years to Come
Years from now, when people describe the strength of our culture…
When they speak about the steadiness of our leadership…
When they experience the trust inside our teams…
This will be one of the moments that helped make it possible.
Leadership excellence does not appear overnight. It is built… conversation by conversation. Insight by insight. Choice by choice. To our inaugural cohort:
Thank you for your courage. Your openness. Your willingness to stretch beyond what is comfortable. You did more than invest in your own leadership. You helped define what leadership means at 9th Way.
And to those considering what comes next…the door is open. And this is only the beginning. We are not simply developing leaders. We are building the leaders our future requires. And that future includes you.
Because leadership legacy is never accidental.
It is built – deliberately — by people willing to do the work.
By Kimberly Cole