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Quiet yet transformative leadership by Sexton and Walton

Have you ever felt that real change often begins in places no one can see?

Terence Sexton and Joan Walton share their research in a recently published paper in ARJ. It is part of the 2026 special issue on Mindset Transformations. They introduce their work below and here is our podcast interview.

“Through our research with changemakers from business, education, charities, and activism, we found that subtle leadership offers a powerful pathway to transformation. Unlike traditional models rooted in ego-driven authority, subtle leadership embraces a quieter, more attuned approach. One grounded in the interplay between individual and collective consciousness.

Using co-operative inquiry, a form of action research, we discovered that our most impactful leadership often unfolds behind the scenes. It manifests not through grand gestures or charismatic personas, but through presence, energy, emotion, and awareness.

We observed that subtle leadership flourishes when the ego quiets. As we inquired into the nature of our ego, our sense of self-worth and identity in relation to others, it became increasingly elusive. As its hold on our psyche diminished, we more easily entered flow states of consciousness, allowing us to perceive and respond to complex dynamics with greater clarity. With a quieter ego, we became more attuned to relational fields, sensitive to emerging patterns, and able to give voice to subtle shifts. Leadership, we realised, is not a solo act but an intertwining of individual and collective consciousness.

Our inquiry also revealed how socially conditioned lifestyles and work habits often perpetuate the very crises we seek to resolve. Confronting this truth was uncomfortable, tempting us to retreat into semi-consciousness. Yet, by healing past trauma and loosening egoic attachments, we became more capable of transcending societal conditioning and engaging with complex crises from a place of wholeness.

In a world gripped by meta-crisis, where environmental, social, and psychological challenges converge, subtle leadership offers a new paradigm. Transformative leadership demands more than strategy; it calls for deep integration of self and collective. By quieting, healing, and deconditioning the ego, changemakers unlock capacities to lead with wisdom, responsiveness, and depth.

We invite you to reflect: When have you witnessed leadership that was quiet yet transformative?

Podcast:

https://soundcloud.com/hilary-bradbury/terry-sexton

Co-authors

Terence Sexton, PhD Student at the Alef Trust and Director of Natural Systems Coaching and Development Ltd.

Dr Joan Walton, PhD Supervisor at the Alef Trust and Senior Lecturer at York St John University.

Forever Citation Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14767503251397885