Leading into what wants to emerge

Jan 28

The First Stirring Beneath the Ground

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the light is beginning to return, almost imperceptibly. Beneath the frost‑hardened soil, and in places waterlogged ground bulbs are emerging, seeds waiting. Branches, some bare, and some with already formed buds, hold the shape of what’s to come.

This is not yet spring. But it is no longer deepest winter. A liminal space.

And in this space, something begins to stir.

From Planning to Listening: A Different Rhythm

For many leaders, January arrives with urgency. A new board cycle, a fresh quarter, targets to be hit, and strategies to be set. There’s a temptation to leap into action, to deliver answers, to set a direction with clarity and speed.

But nature doesn’t rush.

It emerges.

After the inward work of winter - the releasing, the resting - what if the invitation is not to plan harder, but to listen more closely?

What if the question isn’t just What are we doing this year? But what is ready to emerge?
Not just Where are we going? But who are we becoming as we go?

Leadership, at its heart, is relational. And emergence - true emergence - asks for presence, not prediction.

Emergence Takes Courage (and Trust)

There’s a particular vulnerability in not having all the answers. In allowing space for co-creation. In saying to your team, “Let’s listen together to what’s taking shape.”

But there’s power in this, too.

By inviting others into the process - not just the outcome - you open space for deeper ownership, more authentic innovation, and greater trust. You shift from control to connection. From direction to dialogue.

The strongest leaders I’ve walked beside are those who know when to stand firm and when to soften into what’s not yet known.

This is a time for sensing what’s stirring. Not forcing it into bloom, but noticing its shape, tending the soil, preparing for growth.

A Season for Beginning Differently

We don’t emerge fully formed. Neither do ideas, teams, or years. What matters most now is not how quickly you move—but how intentionally you begin.

The best leadership doesn’t force clarity before its time. It listens. It notices. It invites others to do the same.

This month, I’m returning to questions I carry into many of my conversations with leaders and teams - especially those walking through change:

What wants to emerge?

What energy are you bringing to the year?

What if anything, might you want to let in, to make space for?

What stillness have you honoured, and what is it growing?

If you’re looking for a space to sense what’s next - whether through Walking Partnerships or through collaborative leadership development - I'd love to connect. Our next Walking Partnership day is on 5th March at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex. Email me at anni@annitownend.com to register your interest.

And if you’re exploring how to lead through emergence, presence and trust, the community at Collaboration Equation™ offers rich ground for reflection and partnership.