I’ve recently stepped into a new role, (no really, no parade necessary) heading up the new Centre for Coaching & Leadership and I’ve been reflecting (aka overthinking) on my own leadership style and how I would like to show up.
As a coach, I have the privilege of working with and learning from really inspirational leaders across the University and I’ve noticed something: the leaders who create the most impact aren’t always the loudest or the most visible. They’re the ones who lead with generosity.
Not generosity in the financial sense, but in the way they show up. They give people their full attention, they share credit and they create space for others to grow. They coach, rather than command.
They’re also often the ones who don’t see themselves as ‘good’ leaders – we’re so conditioned to a traditional, heroic, masculine, model of leadership that people whose strengths lie in empathy and compassion, who are quieter, more humble, more reflective, often struggle to recognise their impact on others.
Why generosity matters for us, now:
In a sector shaped by constant change, performance pressures, and complex demands, generous leadership might sound like a luxury. But I’d argue that it’s a strength, perhaps even a superpower!
Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety reminds us that people do their best work when they feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be themselves. Generous leaders create that safety. They model trust, openness, and care. Kathleen Fitzpatrick’s Leading Generously (2024) argues that generosity is essential to renewing higher education communities under pressure.
In the Centre for Coaching & Leadership we want to help drive a cultural change at the University, where everyone, (not just those in formal leadership roles), feels empowered to share ideas, make changes, have open dialogue and build meaningful relationships. We think that’s how we can enable us all to do our best work and to thrive.
We’d love to hear from you in the comments – where could a little more generosity—of time, trust, or belief— help to shift our culture and move us forward?
- Sign up to hear more about the Centre for Coaching & Leadership as it develops
- Read about the Generous Leadership Model
- Find out more about your strengths and how to leverage them: Strengthscope® profiling tool
- Coaching skills for manager course
- Building a coaching culture skill bite on the Development Toolkit.
Respond