By Shannon Leppky
January 20, 2026
“Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.”
– Unknown
On our recent trip to Australia to visit my sister and her husband, we were treated to some breathtaking scenes. One that has stuck with me was along the south shore, just below Adelaide, a wild stretch of coastline facing the vast Southern Ocean, with no land mass between it and Antarctica. Standing there, you could feel the raw power of nature in the wind, the waves, and the endless horizon.
As I watched the water pounding against the rocks, I noticed how the granite formations told a quiet story of endurance and transformation. Some were jagged and sharp, others worn smooth, polished over time.
It struck me that this beauty was not created in calm or comfort, but through constant force and friction. The same waves that erode and break also shape and refine. I could not help but see a reflection of how change often works in our own lives.
It was a significant disruption that brought me to the work I do now. It was not easy and at the same time, I know that had I not experienced that force and friction, I would not have been open or ready to move into the work I feel called to do.
I see this in the work I do with individuals and with teams. Rarely do people reach out to spend time in their Red Chair when things are good. Or when they feel good. It is when something needs to be “refined”.
Look at the beauty of the formations above. It was created over time through friction and force. A unique and beautiful demonstration of nature’s power.
While we now have countless tools at our disposal, including a rapidly growing number of AI products that can help us move faster and accomplish more, the deepest and most important work still cannot be outsourced.
The work of truly knowing ourselves, of understanding the dynamics in our environment, and of navigating the complex interpersonal currents in our circles often comes with friction and force.
It asks us to be fully present, to stay conscious rather than numbed or distracted.
It invites us to pay attention to what is really happening beneath the surface, both within and around us. And, perhaps most importantly, it calls us to be brave. To lean into discomfort, to welcome growth, and to embrace the change that is meant to happen, even when it feels anything but easy.
Learn about the specific behaviors and practices to begin your journey as a coach! Join Shannon Leppky’s presentation, Self Leadership for Project Success: A Non-Negotiable Power Skill, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as part of IIL’s Live Webcast series, People, Influence, and Purpose. Register today!
Shannon Leppky is an executive leadership coach and team facilitator with over 20 years of diverse experience in education and business. Her corporate leadership journey culminated in the C-Suite of Crown Corporation in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she served as the Chief Human Resource Officer and Vice President of Product, and was identified for CEO succession. She led people strategies that enabled the successful adoption of many multi-million-dollar business transformation programs.
She holds a Master of Education in Adult Education from the University of Manitoba, and an Executive Certificate in Management from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. She is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and holds a certification in Equine Facilitated Learning and Coaching (EFLC) through the Academy for Coaching with Horses in Colorado. She is also certified in Core Strengths and EQi 2.0 assessments.
