Leading Without a Playbook

​

Hey Spark Family,

Let’s talk about something every leader is feeling - but not always naming:

👉 There’s no playbook anymore.​
Not for growth.
Not for culture.
Not for leading through… whatever this week throws at us.

We’re managing real-time disruptions, shifting team expectations, unclear goals, and a future that feels more like a moving target than a strategic plan.

So what happens when the old leadership rules no longer apply?

You start writing your own.

The Research Is Clear

🔹72% of executives say their current challenges are entirely new compared to even five years ago (PwC Pulse Survey, 2025).

🔹59% of managers feel pressure to make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information (Gartner, 2024).

🔹And only 26% of leaders feel confident navigating ambiguity at work (McKinsey, 2025).

Translation?

Today’s leaders aren’t underprepared.
They’re under-supported - because they’re solving problems no one’s solved before.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

The leaders I coach are incredibly capable. But right now, capability alone isn’t enough.

They’re navigating:

• New team dynamics without historical context
• Business models shifting mid-quarter
• Rising expectations around transparency, inclusion, and empathy
• Burnout in themselves and their teams

What I hear most is:

That’s not failure.
​That’s leadership in a new era.

↓

What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Here’s how we equip leaders to lead without a script:

Anchor in values, not certainty.​
When the “how” keeps changing, the “why” becomes your compass.

Lead with transparency.​
You don’t need to have all the answers - but you do need to communicate what you do know, and what you’re working toward.

Build decision frameworks, not rigid plans.​
Swap fixed roadmaps for flexible principles that help guide action under pressure.

Create psychological safety.​
When the ground is shifting, people need to feel safe to think, speak, and try.

​

🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Ask yourself:

➡ Where am I still trying to lead from an outdated script?

➡ What values can guide me when the strategy isn’t clear?

➡ How can I model resilience over rigidity?

You don’t need a rulebook to lead powerfully.
You just need your voice, your clarity, and your commitment to show up, especially when things feel uncertain.

​

With gratitude,
​Jackie

​

​

P.S. – Forward this to a leader who’s quietly questioning themselves. Let’s remind each other: it’s okay not to feel 100% all the time - and it’s still possible to lead powerfully anyway. ✨

​

​​​​