Over the Easter break, thanks to the Durham Laidlaw team, I had the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops in preparation for my upcoming Leadership in Action (LIA) project. Led by Graeme Taylor (Centred Coaching), alongside insightful sessions from Durham University academics Dr Nikki Rutter on “Volunteerism vs Volunteering” and Dr Bruce Malamud on “Communicating Resilience to Hazards”. The training offered valuable space to reflect on leadership, ethics, and community engagement.
One of the most significant ways the training reshaped my understanding was reframing what it means to work in a community setting. Rather than approaching the LIA as simply a project to deliver outcomes, I know see it as a chance to engage with and learn from the community itself. The sessions emphasised that meaningful impact comes not from imposing solutions, but from listening, understanding local contexts, and respecting existing knowledge and practices.
This perspective has directly influenced how I am preparing to engage with people from different cultural and social backgrounds. In my LIA I will be working with the make_sense organisation in Colombia in partnership with Fundacíon Sora. In preparation, I have been learning Spanish alongside my studies. While challenging, this process has already deepened my appreciation for Hispanic culture and highlighted the importance of communication as a tool for building trust and connection.
Several key insights stood out across the sessions. Firstly, leadership is grounded in values. Understanding your own character enables more confident and ethical decision making, especially in unfamiliar or high-pressure environments. Secondly, the discussion of voluntourism highlighted the ethical responsibility to ensure our presence contributes positively. Finally, the session on risk and resilience emphasised the importance of communicating complex ideas in accessible ways. As a result of the training, my perspective on leadership has shifted. I now see leadership as less as directing others and more as a practice of responsibility and adaptability.
Looking ahead at my LIA project, I plan to apply these insights by prioritising ethical engagement, active listening, and clear communication. I aim to approach the experience not only as an opportunity to contribute, but also to learn, ensuring that my work is shaped by the needs and perspectives of the community I will be a part of. Ultimately, this training has strengthened my confidence in approaching my LIA.