Not all roots hold us back. Some anchor us in what truly matters. The future of leadership begins by listening to the wisdom that came before In the whirlwind of innovation, strategy roadmaps and quarterly targets, it’s easy to forget where we came from. Not just as individuals, but as organizations. And yet, tucked into the DNA of every company lies something sacred: the story of how it all began. Call it founder’s energy. Call it the elder spirit. Call it culture’s original heartbeat. Whatever name you give it, it holds a kind of wisdom that today’s fast-paced leadership world would do well to remember. THE SPARK THAT STARTED IT ALL Every organization was once a dream. A garage. A kitchen table. A conversation between two friends who saw a gap in the world and said, “Let’s build something better.” Those early founders weren’t just visionaries. They were builders of culture. Not through slogans or HR handbooks, but through how they showed up. How they treated people. What they believed was worth fighting for. And somewhere in the rush of growth and scale, those stories often get buried under process. We replace ethos with strategy. We measure values instead of living them. We talk about authenticity but forget where it was born. But the most enduring organizations are those that don’t just evolve. They remember. FOUNDER’S ENERGY ISN’T NOSTALGIA. IT’S DIRECTION Honoring founder’s values isn’t about resisting change. It’s about anchoring innovation in meaning. Think of it this way: A tree grows upward only as deeply as it is rooted. In the same way, companies that stay tethered to their origin story -while allowing it to evolve- grow stronger, not stale. The founder’s energy often includes: A personal sense of purpose A clear "why" beyond profit Relationships over transactions Courage over perfection Culture as a lived experience These are not outdated relics. They are the soil from which adaptive leadership can thrive. WHAT THE ELDERS TEACH US In traditional cultures, elders were the keepers of wisdom. Not because they knew everything, but because they had seen cycles repeat. They offered the long view. In organizations, “elders” can be: Founders who are still alive but stepped back Senior employees who’ve seen every iteration of change Original customers who believed before the brand was big Community partners who shaped the company’s roots Inclusion isn’t only generational - it’s historical. Tapping into this kind of memory doesn’t just bring depth. It brings resonance. Because when people in your company understand where they come from, they know what they’re stewarding into the future. WAYS TO BRING HERITAGE INTO THE NOW Here are a few powerful ways leaders can integrate heritage into today’s culture: Founder Reflection Circles Host storytelling sessions where founders or early employees share why the company started. Let the team connect to that heartbeat. Cultural Origin Documents Create a simple one-pager capturing original values, vision, and pivotal early moments. Make it living, not laminated. Rituals That Matter Reinvent meaningful founder rituals (team walks, shared meals, Friday reflections) not for sentimentality, but to rekindle the spirit of connection. Elder Boards or Advisory Circles Invite retired leaders, wise customers, or long-standing partners into occasional strategic sessions - not for decision-making, but for grounding Legacy Storytelling in Onboarding Instead of just process, share people’s experiences. Weave the company’s founding journey into how new employees are welcomed. THE BALANCE: HERITAGE VS. STAGNATION Romanticizing the past is no leadership strategy. Not all founder behavior should be idealized. Not all legacy should be preserved. Sometimes, honoring a founder means evolving the parts they couldn’t yet see. Or shedding dynamics that no longer serve. But even that can be done with grace, not erasure. The goal isn’t to freeze time. It’s to carry its essence forward. Because the deepest form of innovation isn’t from scratch. It’s from source. THE GIFT OF LOOKING BACK When leaders reconnect with the soul of their organization, something shifts: Meetings become more meaningful. Decisions gain depth. People feel like they’re part of a lineage, not just a task list. And most of all, it becomes easier to lead with integrity, because you're not inventing purpose. You’re remembering it. Final Thought: In a world obsessed with what’s next, don’t forget to ask: What must be carried forward? Because the future isn’t just about where we’re going, …it’s about where we’ve chosen to stay true. ©2025 Kinsey Hartwell – www.unscripted-leadership.org

What masterful facilitators, speakers, and leaders do - without anyone quite knowing how. The most powerful leaders don’t take the stage. They hold the space where others rise. You’ve probably felt it before. You walk into a room. The meeting hasn’t started yet, but something shifts. A person enters. They don’t speak loudly. They don’t demand attention. But the energy changes. It settles. It sharpens. It opens. Suddenly, people are more present. More connected. More alive. That person`- whether they’re leading the team, facilitating the process, or guiding the dialogue- is doing something extraordinary. They are holding the field. And while it may seem like magic, it’s not a trick. It’s a skill. A practice. An energy of leadership that transcends strategy, structure, or words. Let’s explore what it really means to hold the field, and what qualities make certain leaders feel like hypnotists, magicians, or modern-day mystics without ever leaving reality. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HOLD THE FIELD”? “Holding the field” is a phrase used often in facilitation, systems coaching, and energetic leadership, but it’s rarely explained clearly. So, let’s define it: Holding the field is the invisible leadership act of stabilizing the emotional, energetic, and relational space - so that trust, depth, dialogue, and transformation can unfold. It’s like being the invisible bowl around the conversation. The container. The grounded presence that allows everything else to happen. It’s not just about what you say. It’s about who you are being, and how others feel in your presence. It’s presence. It’s attention. It’s a felt sense of safety and invitation, without control. THE LEADER AS MAGICIAN, HYPNOTIST, OR ALCHEMIST Leaders who hold the field well often feel otherworldly. Not because they’re supernatural, but because they’re tuned into something deeper than most people are used to. They embody: Stillness without stagnation Focus without force Confidence without ego Invitation without manipulation Spaciousness without chaos They’re not casting spells. They’re casting attention. They’re not hypnotizing people into agreement. They’re inviting people into presence. They’re the facilitator who reads the unspoken. The panel host who brings out the gold in each voice. The leader who says little but makes everyone feel seen. The coach who asks one question, and the room falls silent in awakening. They don’t overpower the moment. They partner with it. WHAT ARE THESE LEADERS ACTUALLY DOING? Let’s make the invisible visible. Here are some of the skills and inner stances great field-holders bring: Grounding Their Own Energy First Before leading others, they lead themselves. They arrive grounded. Rooted. Not rushing in from another fire. Not multitasking mentally. They’re here. With you. Fully. They regulate the space by regulating themselves. Reading the Room Subtly They don’t just listen to what’s said. They listen to what’s not said. They notice tension, emotion, withdrawal, curiosity - often before it’s verbalized. Their awareness is panoramic. Becoming the Bowl, Not the Spoon They don’t stir the pot for the sake of action. They become the bowl that holds the ingredients. They create safety and permission - then let emergence happen. They know: Containment is power, not control. Holding Polarities Without Needing to Fix Them Where others rush to solve or simplify, they stay centered. They can hold: Conflict without collapsing. Emotion without absorbing. Silence without awkwardness. Complexity without needing quick clarity. This is emotional agility in motion. Sensing the System, Not Just the Individuals They sense the whole field: the team, the culture, the history, the tension, the unspoken agreements. They don’t just facilitate tasks. They facilitate transformation, because they’re attuned to the system’s deeper pulse. WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN SOMEONE HOLDS THE FIELD? Ask yourself: Have you ever felt unexpectedly safe in a conversation? Have you ever opened up more than usual without quite knowing why? Have you ever been in a room where everyone felt more intelligent, connected, and honest just because one person was present? That’s it. That’s the feeling of a field being held. It’s not charisma. It’s not performance. It’s energetic integrity. ARE LEADERS BORN WITH THIS SKILL? Some are naturally more intuitive. More empathetic. More aware of group dynamics. But any leader can learn to hold the field more consciously. It starts with: Stillness Deep listening Inner clarity Spaciousness A commitment to serve the space - not dominate it. It’s not a “stage presence.” It’s a sacred presence. What Happens When No One Holds the Field? Chaos. Talking over each other. Surface-level answers. Confusion. Power struggles. Energy leaks. In teams, it shows up as: Fragmentation Burnout Apathy People not feeling heard - even if they speak all the time Without the field being held, the potential of the group leaks out the sides. THE NEW LEADERSHIP SUPERPOWER Holding the field may not show up on a KPI report. It may never appear in a job description. But in the moments that matter? It’s the skill that determines whether transformation happens, or doesn’t. In adaptive leadership, systems change, coaching, and facilitation work - this is the invisible thread that holds everything together. And it’s not flashy. But it’s felt. Deeply. Immediately. FINAL REFLECTION We’ve been trained to believe that leadership is about driving action, commanding attention, or having the best ideas. But the next generation of leaders? They don’t drive, command, or perform. They hold space. They create room for insight. For emergence. For truth. For shared humanity. They become bowls. Anchors. Vessels. The ones who carry the moment without having to carry the spotlight. They are the quiet magicians. The grounded alchemists. The ones who change everything, without forcing anything. So the next time you walk into a room, ask yourself: What field am I creating by how I show up? What might become possible- if I choose to hold it? And then - don’t overthink it. Because the magic of holding the field doesn’t come from control. It comes from presence. From embodiment. From becoming one with the moment, not trying to manage it.

What improv comedy can teach us about bold, human leadership in uncertain times In a world that rewards certainty, the most courageous leaders are the ones who can show up unscripted and lead from presence You don’t have to be funny to lead like an improviser. You don’t need a stage. You don’t need punchlines. But you do need one thing: presence. Because at its core, great improv isn’t about entertainment- it’s about connection. It’s about tuning in, trusting your instincts, responding in real time, and co-creating with what shows up… not what you rehearsed. And in that sense, improvisation is one of the most powerful leadership muscles you can build. THE PROBLEM WITH POLISHED LEADERSHIP Many leaders are taught to believe that strength = certainty. That you need to have the answers, own the room, anticipate every twist, and deliver perfection on cue. But the world doesn’t work like that anymore. The pace of change is too fast. The challenges too nuanced. The human needs too complex. And in this messy, beautifully unpredictable business landscape, what people are craving is not perfection - it’s presence. Leaders who can show up real, open, and responsive. Leaders who know how to adapt instead of freeze. Leaders who don’t fake certainty - but offer clarity anyway. This is where improvisation becomes a mirror. A mindset. A method. WHAT IS IMPROV, REALLY? Improv isn’t chaos. It’s structured freedom. It’s built on a few core principles that just so happen to be perfect for modern leadership: “Yes, and…” - Accept what’s happening, and build on it. Be in the moment - Let go of the script and listen deeply. Make your partner look good - Collaboration over ego. Follow the fear - Step into the unknown with courage. Trust the process - You don’t need all the answers to begin. Sound familiar? These aren’t just performance tricks. They’re the same traits that define adaptive, emotionally intelligent, human-centered leadership. WHY IMPROVISATIONAL LEADERS THRIVE They don’t freeze in the fog When plans fall apart, improvisational leaders don’t panic - they pivot. They anchor in purpose and adjust the path in real time. They make space for others to lead Improv is built on trust and co-creation. It’s not a solo act. These leaders invite ideas, share the spotlight, and let solutions emerge from the group. They model emotional agility They can hold paradox. Laugh in tension. Stay grounded in uncertainty. And in doing so, they create psychological safety for others to do the same. They value curiosity over control Improv isn’t about being right - it’s about exploring what’s possible. Improvisational leaders ask bold questions and listen for what wants to emerge. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN LEADERSHIP Instead of saying: “ This wasn’t in the plan .” Try: “ What’s the opportunity we didn’t see coming? ” Instead of: “ Let’s wait until we have all the answers. ” Try: “ Let’s take a thoughtful first step and learn from it .” Instead of: “ We need to make this perfect. ” Try: “ Let’s make this meaningful—and iterate from there .” You’re not winging it. You’re working with it. IMPERFECT, PRESENT, AND POWERFUL Let’s be honest: your team doesn’t need you to be flawless. They need you to be real. To notice what’s happening. To name the moment. To choose the next move - not from fear, but from trust. Improv teaches us that leadership is a living conversation, not a solo performance. And that you can’t lead people through change if you’re clinging to a script written for a different reality. A PROMPT TO REFLECT Where in your leadership are you trying to be perfect -when what’s really needed is presence? What would shift if you let go of control and leaned into curiosity? THE NEW LEADERSHIP SUPERPOWER The future belongs to leaders who can respond, not react. Who can create culture in real time. Who can walk into complexity and say with grounded calm: " I’m here. I’m listening. Let’s figure it out together. " That’s improvisation. That’s leadership. That’s unscripted. ©2025 Kinsey Hartwell – www.unscripted-leadership.org

Seeing beyond the spreadsheet into a deeper, more inspired kind of vision Let’s be honest: when we think about strategy, the first images that come to mind are usually charts, bullet points, or slide decks. Precision. Planning. Control. Great strategy isn’t just designed -it’s felt. Like art, it moves people, stirs energy, and dares to be different But what if we could borrow insight from the world of art -from color, emotion, movement- and learn to think about strategy in a more creative, human, and even poetic way? Enter: Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT? Swirls of sky. A bold, uncontainable moon. The tiny town beneath a universe in motion. It’s not a logical piece - it’s emotional. Intuitive. Alive. And that’s exactly why it’s the perfect metaphor for business strategy in uncertain, fast-moving times. We’re not navigating static markets anymore. We’re navigating something much more like Starry Night - dynamic, layered, even chaotic at times. And that requires a different way of seeing. STRATEGY ISN’T A STATIC MAP - IT’S A LIVING CANVAS Many organizations treat strategy like a map: “ If we go from Point A to Point B using these steps, we will win .” But Van Gogh didn’t follow a fixed path - he trusted the emotion of the moment, the energy of movement, the rhythm of flow. He painted what he felt as much as what he saw. Likewise, modern leaders must learn to paint with vision - not just with plans. Strategy is no longer just about knowing every step in advance. It’s about tuning into patterns, sensing shifts, and choosing strokes with courage. 5 LESSONS FROM STARRY NIGHT FOR STRATEGY-MINDED LEADERS: Embrace Motion The sky in Starry Night is moving. Wildly. Strategy today must do the same. Don’t expect the market, your competitors, or your customers to stay still. Build fluidity into your strategy, not just fixed goals. Create space to adapt. Let Vision Lead Van Gogh painted this scene from memory, not realism. Strategy isn’t always about reacting to what is - it’s about imagining what could be. Vision should be bold enough to inspire, yet grounded enough to guide. Honor Complexity Starry Night is layered. Color over color. Shape over shape. Strategy should reflect the interconnectedness of people, departments, culture, and values—not just isolated KPIs. Complex doesn’t mean unclear. It means alive. Make Space for Emotion The painting isn’t just seen—it’s felt. That matters. We pretend business is rational, but decisions are made emotionally—by customers, employees, and leaders alike. Good strategy taps into energy, meaning, and belief, not just logic. Dare to Be Distinct Van Gogh didn’t try to paint like anyone else. He painted like Van Gogh. Your strategy shouldn’t look like your competitor’s. It should reflect your unique identity, your culture, your “why.” STRATEGY AS ART, LEADERSHIP AS EXPRESSION You can’t always measure inspiration - but you can feel when a team is aligned, when a vision excites, when an idea sparks something beyond data. That’s what the best strategies do. They don't just chart a course - they awaken energy. A PROMPT TO REFLECT: If your current business strategy were a painting, what would it look like? Would it be alive, layered, and moving - or neat, safe, and flat? And more importantly: Does it make anyone feel something? YOU DON’T NEED TO BE AN ARTIST- BUT YOU ARE A CREATOR Strategy isn’t about being right. It’s about being awake. It’s about seeing the currents in the chaos and creating something bold enough to last through the night. So the next time you’re sitting in a meeting with another deck of bullet points, ask yourself: Where’s the swirl? Where’s the spark? Where’s the starry night? Because business doesn’t need more perfect plans. It needs more courageous visionaries who are willing to lead with color, curiosity, and conviction. That’s the art. That’s the strategy. That’s Unscripted Leadership. ©2025 Kinsey Hartwell – www.unscripted-leadership.org

Why clarity of direction beats certainty of steps in modern leadership If you want to leave a trail - Walk unchartered paths and let go of the compass in your hand. Let your inner compass guide you instead In a world that’s moving faster than most strategies can keep up with, the old question of “ What’s the plan? ” is being replaced by a deeper one: “ What direction are we headed? ” Because leadership today isn’t about perfectly laid-out roadmaps. It’s about knowing how to navigate when the map gets outdated the moment it’s printed. It’s about leading with a compass. THE MYTH OF THE PERFECT PLAN For years, leadership was obsessed with precision. Forecasts, timelines, 10-step roadmaps. As if the world would wait politely for the plan to play out. But reality doesn't follow our outlines. Markets shift. Teams evolve. Crises happen. And in the messiness of change, the leaders who thrive aren’t the ones clutching a plan - they're the ones anchored to a direction and nimble enough to respond. WHAT IS THE COMPASS? A compass doesn’t tell you exactly how to get somewhere. It tells you where true north is. In leadership, your compass is your purpose. It’s your values, your vision, and your internal alignment. It’s what keeps you grounded when the road gets unclear - and what pulls you forward when everything else is uncertain. Maps give instructions. A compass gives intention. LEADING WITH THE COMPASS LOOKS LIKE: Asking, “ Is this in alignment with who we are and why we exist? ”- not just “ Is this on schedule ?” Making decisions based on principles, not just pressure. Trusting your team to co-create the path forward, instead of trying to control every step. Knowing when to pause, zoom out, and re-center on your deeper "why." COMPASS LEADERSHIP REQUIRES… PRESENCE To lead with a compass, you need to pause. You need space for reflection. You need to listen- to yourself, your team, your context. And that’s the part many leaders skip when urgency creeps in. But clarity of direction doesn’t come from rushing. It comes from being aligned. From knowing what truly matters. From leading from the inside out. A PROMPT TO REFLECT: What’s your leadership compass pointing to right now? Not your to-do list. Not your KPIs. Your true north. And are your decisions today taking you in that direction- or just keeping you busy? LET GO OF THE MAP The map can be helpful - but don’t be afraid to redraw it. Because the best leaders in this moment? They’re the ones who have the courage to say: " I don’t know every step yet..., but I know where we’re going. And I trust myself and my people to find the way ." That’s unscripted leadership. And it’s exactly what this world needs now. ©2025 Kinsey Hartwell – www.unscripted-leadership.org