Insights on staying grounded in a turbulent world from leadership expert Dave Schrader
In my latest conversation with leaders about how to prioritize thriving to strengthen teams and organizations in our disruptive world, it was a delight to connect with Dave Schrader, PhD, a longtime leadership development expert with the renowned firm Leadership Circle. If you feel like a cork bobbing in an ocean of complexities, I think you’ll find his wisdom invaluable.
Beyond the Bobbing Cork
“It’s going to be hard to thrive if you’re like a cork in a turbulent sea, just bobbing up and down at the behest of whatever waves come your way,” Dave told me.
This metaphor captures the experience many leaders face today—being tossed around by rapid technological change, workplace transformation, and global uncertainties.
When we lack a stable center, we end up reacting to every news headline, market fluctuation, or organizational challenge without coherence or clear direction. Like that cork, we expend tremendous energy but make little meaningful progress.
The question becomes: How do we find stability amidst turbulence? How do we navigate effectively instead of merely staying afloat?
From Staying Afloat to Finding Your Place to Stand
Dave suggested that thriving leadership begins with finding your place to stand—developing an internal coherence that allows you to witness and respond to instability without being overtaken by it.
“That’s a place from which you can observe what’s going on in the world,” he explained. “You can observe the ocean that you’re bobbing in and realize you’re the ocean as well as the cork.”
This shift in perspective changes everything. It opens paths for generative action you couldn’t see before.
But how do you find your place to stand? Dave offered two starting points:
- Learn how to synchronize your thoughts, emotions, and nervous system so that you operate from inner balance. Self-regulation helps you stay more present, grounded, and adaptable, responding to changing situations with clarity rather than defensiveness.
- Connect with something larger than yourself—a purpose or calling, a higher vision, community, gratitude, or service to others. This keeps you feeling alive and engaged regardless of outside conditions.
Going Beyond Your “Local Address”
Finding your place to stand also means understanding you’re more than what Dave calls your local address. Your name, roles, social locations, and identities are important, yet they represent just a small part of who you are.
This is a big idea, and I love it! When you identify with a limited self, you’re vulnerable to shifting circumstances, opinions, and pressures. But when you expand your sense of self—through spiritual practice, higher purpose, or a belief in our shared humanity—you see challenges differently and tap a deeper source of stability. You know who you are regardless of your situation. It’s like finding the keel for your boat in choppy waters.
The Power of Practice
One of the simplest (and most profound) reminders Dave shared during our conversation was this:
Find your practice—and practice your practice.
Whether it’s yoga, meditation, walking in nature, painting, dancing, or another soul-filling pursuit, choose something consistent that becomes your personal sanctuary. This refuge helps you respond to life’s challenges from a place of coherence. Over time, it helps rewire your body and mind so that non-reactivity and wellbeing become a more natural default, no matter what life and work throw your way. You move from the cork bobbing helplessly to skilled navigator who can read the waters and chart a meaningful course.
The leaders my team works with often say their best days come when they are grounded, intentional, connected, and well. Here are a few practices we encourage them to try—especially when demands run high:
- Set Your Morning Intention: Before checking phone or email, connect with your deeper purpose for the day. Who do you want to be today? How do you want to impact others?
- Pause to Reset: Schedule a brief wellness check-in. Step outside, stretch, breathe deeply, or simply notice how you’re feeling.
- Choose Human Connection Over Tech: Dedicate at least one hour a day to being phone-free time for reflection, conversation, or connection.
- Transition with Intention: Between commitments, pause to ask: “How do I want to show up in this next interaction?”
- Close the Day Well: End with a ritual that invites rest—write down three accomplishments, reflect on what you’re grateful for, try a non-sleep deep rest practice, or read something sacred to you.
- Connect with Nature Weekly: Even brief time outdoors reduces stress, sharpens thinking, and reminds you you’re part of something larger.
Remember: Leadership doesn’t have to come at the cost of your capacity to thrive. In fact, your wellbeing is the foundation for leading well.
From Individual to Interconnected Thriving
When we expand our sense of self, our view of thriving changes. We stop pursuing it solely for personal benefit and being to see our wellbeing as inseparable from the wellbeing of others.
“The more we get off of ourselves,” Dave noted, “the more we actually end up thriving.”
Recent research backs this up: Altruism, gratitude, growing others, and service significantly contribute to our own wellbeing. As leaders, this means creating cultures where people can contribute to meaningful purposes that benefit the broader community.
As we find our place to stand as leaders in today’s complex environments, Dave’s metaphor invites us to move beyond being corks at the mercy of turbulent sea—and to create the conditions for genuine thriving not just for ourselves, but for all those we serve.
ABOUT DAVE SCHRADER
Dave brings over 40 years of experience as a seasoned leadership advisor, supporting senior and emerging leaders in complex, high-pressure environments. His highly regarded development approach connects adult development stages and consciousness with leadership effectiveness and business performance. Central to his work is helping leaders move beyond ego into leadership maturity that releases others’ full contribution. Believing Creative and Integral leadership levels are necessary for today’s volatile world, he creates safe spaces for exploring assumptions while blending experiential activities with outdoor learning. Workshop designs integrate experience, reflection, and action planning to develop leadership wisdom, as Dave believes leaders must experience, feel, and embody learning rather than simply “learn about” it. Based in Silver Lake, Ohio, Dave lives with his wife Andi and has two grown children who are busy charting their own course in the world.
Want to receive the latest research, practices and insights on thriving directly to your inbox? Subscribe here.
Wisdom Works’ Be Well Lead Well® newsletter features conversations, strategies, and resources to empower a global movement of change leaders committed to a world where everyone thrives. Our sincere gratitude to Dave Schrader for sharing his wisdom so generously.
Wisdom Works was founded in 1999 with the belief that wellbeing and wisdom are the foundation of truly effective leadership. If you’d like to explore how these principles could transform your team or organization, please reach out to us via this form.
