In watercolour, the artist goes from light to darker shades because once a dark pigment touches the paper there’s no going back. The white of the paper is considered as the lightest tone of the palette. And, in oil painting, the process is reversed: darker tones come first, allowing the light to emerge slowly and deliberately.

The order isn’t a matter of preference. It’s dictated by the nature of the medium — The Context. Same seems to be true for organizations.

Some systems require transparency, openness, and light to lead; others demand that we work through the shadows first — complexity, structure, or history — before clarity can emerge.

There is no one right way. Context defines the action. And the effective leaders sense what the need of the system is and adapt their approach accordingly.

A couple of reflective questions for the leaders:

  • What is needed in the current context of your organization? Clarity and openness (light) or patiently working through complexity and resistance (shadows)?
  • To what extent is your leadership approach aligned with what your team and system truly need at this moment?