Tip 1 - Alchemy: Leadership that is worth its weight

Alchemy (n): a type of chemistry, especially in the Middle Ages, that dealt with trying to find a way to change ordinary metals into gold and with trying to find a medicine that would cure any disease

Throughout much of the 20th century, intellectual society had little patience with alchemists and their vain efforts to transform base metals into gold. But, in the 1980s, a handful of pragmatic scholars began arguing that alchemists made noteworthy contributions to the advancement of science. Unfortunately, the alchemists did not help their cause, they were obsessed with secrecy and deciphering their carefully coded texts proved quite a challenge, rendering them eminently unpopular with those trying to champion their cause. Whether true Alchemists were pseudoscientists or the real deal remains in debate.

Today alchemy is better known as the process of taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, sometimes in a way that cannot be explained. The Oxford Dictionary defines alchemy as: a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination. Coincidently, this perfectly describes the flair we seek in all our leadership role candidates, be they Heads or Bursars.

There is no question that all good leaders naturally display a similar skill set: integrity, the ability to delegate, clear lines of communication, self-awareness, mental agility, and the ability to influence whilst maintaining empathy. However, the difference between good leaders and great leaders cannot always be explained. There is a magic element that makes an exceptional candidate stand out, a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, a rare dexterity that separates them from their peers. Whilst their talent might be immediately obvious from reading their application or knowing something of their history, great leaders, those creative enough to really make a difference, are more than just successful chemists whose skills are easily identifiable. Alchemy takes passion and nerve, it takes fearlessness; having the courage of your conviction and a healthy attitude to failure; learning and adjusting until all the elements combine as the perfect formula.

Perhaps the real difference is the ability to be an agent of change. With strategy and vision comes an ever-present need for adjustment. If 2020 has taught us anything it is how resilient and capable we can be under pressure, and that change is not always to be dreaded or avoided but instead welcomed and applauded. Leaders must guide and champion change – both those that they envision and the ones that have been entrusted to them.

It has been widely suggested that we no longer need traditional leaders, those who successfully carve out a path and guide a way through, making things happen with others following. We are now in need of those who can transform and combine ideas with people to create something distinct. Great leaders – those we consider have had the most influence on us – are often those who have made us feel good about ourselves. Alchemists are exceptional in making their teams feel that they were entirely responsible for their own success.

The alchemist acts as a host rather than hero, asking questions and holding the space for an individual or collective to find and grow their own creativity, process, and answers. As an employee, I know which type of leader I would rather have.

Headspace Academics; fresh thinking. Helping school leaders find solutions for their school’s long-term security.