This article series by Jennifer Abrams explores the evolving role of international school leaders in today’s volatile and polarized world. Through timely, practical reflections, each piece offers tools and mindsets to help leaders stay grounded, lead with empathy, and build trust, even amidst complexity. Topics include the emotional self-regulation needed in high-stakes conversations, the power of suspending certainty to foster deeper understanding, and how managing polarities (rather than trying to solve them) helps maintain balance in our schools. Together, these articles provide a roadmap for leading with clarity, compassion, and adaptability—conversation by conversation.
Navigating in Polarizing Times
The introduction of this series calls on international school leaders to develop greater emotional intelligence, communication skills, and contextual awareness to model empathy, curiosity, and composure, especially when navigating the complexity and polarization of today’s global landscape.
Effective leadership in polarizing times requires developing the skill of suspending certainty by recognizing that your perspective is one of many, and responding with curiosity instead of defensiveness to build trust and deeper understanding.
Balancing tensions—like continuity and change or autonomy and alignment—isn’t about choosing sides but about navigating complexity with curiosity and care, making polarity management an essential leadership skill in today’s uncertain educational landscape.
Transforming Conversations With the SCARF Model
Understanding social triggers through the SCARF model can reduce defensiveness and build connection during high-stakes, polarizing conversations.
