Navigating Change: From Resistance to Resilience

What Leadership Needs to Be When the Waters Get Rough

Leadership is easy to define in calm conditions—but true leadership is revealed when uncertainty, pressure, and difficult decisions arise. In this article, Doni Landefeld, Ph.D., reflects on the parallels between executive leadership and captaining a vessel, drawing from her experience earning a Master Captain license. Through ten powerful leadership lessons, she explores the importance of accountability, emotional regulation, adaptability, communication, and psychological safety when navigating turbulent conditions.

Whether leading a team through organizational change or guiding people through uncertainty, this article offers a grounded and emotionally intelligent perspective on what leadership truly requires when the waters get rough.

Read the full article published on EI Magazine, for leadership insights and practical lessons on navigating uncertainty with clarity and confidence.