Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust brings together leaders from across Aotearoa to strengthen leadership so our tamariki mokopuna thrive.
Our recent webinar brought together leaders from education and corporate sectors to explore what it truly means to lead with courage. Featuring insights from Tom Webb (Principal | Tumuaki, Mt Roskill Grammar School) and Darby Healy (Partner, Risk & Audit Quality, KPMG New Zealand and Capacity Partner for Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust), the kōrero offered practical strategies, personal stories, and powerful reflections on feedback, trust, and vulnerability in leadership.
Key Messages from Darby:
“Feedback is a moral obligation of leaders.”
Darby Healy reminded us that feedback isn’t optional, it’s a leader’s duty. Courageous leadership means stepping into hard conversations with empathy and clarity.
“Culture is just shared behaviours.”
Culture isn’t abstract. It’s the collective habits of a team. Leaders must consistently model feedback and trust to embed these behaviours.
Key messages from Tom:
“Leadership requires courage but showing vulnerability takes even more.”
Trust is built through vulnerability. Tom Webb shared how showing emotion and openness especially in times of crisis, can deepen trust and strengthen team cohesion.
“You are the culture.”
Feedback builds culture from the top down. Leaders must seek feedback actively, respond with gratitude, and model the behaviours they want to see.
Shared messages from both Darby and Tom:
“Feedback is a gift.”
“If you don’t seek feedback, you won’t get it.”
“Start/Stop/Continue concept: what’s one thing I can start, stop or continue to do in my role?”
Embed feedback through practice. Both speakers emphasized the importance of regular, structured feedback. From weekly agenda items to anonymous surveys, feedback must be deliberate and ongoing.
Concepts, tools and approaches referenced by Darby and Tom:
· Make weekly feedback part of your staff meeting agenda
· Conduct termly anonymous staff surveys
· Start/stop/continue feedback questions
· Learn and implement the Radical Candor framework
· Ensure coaching sessions are separate from performance reviews
Radical Candor
The concept of Radical Candor—caring personally while challenging directly—was highlighted as a powerful framework used in Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust High Performing Leadership Teams programme. Complete the Expression of Interest form on our website to learn more about this programme.
Radical Candor – Summary of Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Leadership Coaching
Coaching conversations can also help surface growth areas in a safe, supportive way. For more information about the Springboard Coaching for Leadership programme, complete the Expression of Interest form on our website to learn more about this programme.