What the Corridor Conversations Teach Us

(Blog #2)

Not all leadership happens in formal meetings. Not all learning happens in classrooms.

Some of the richest moments of insight come in the spaces in between, in the corridor, the staff room, the playground, the walk between offices. Today I had one of those moments. A casual exchange with a colleague in the corridor, not scheduled, not structured, led to a conversation about a challenge they were facing. In five unplanned minutes, we explored new ideas, shared experiences, and found clarity neither of us had expected.

It struck me again how much leadership is about presence. Not just being visible, but being available, in the flow of everyday life.

Corridor conversations teach us to:

• listen without agenda

• respond to what is emerging, not what is planned

• build trust in the small moments, not just the big ones

In a world that often values efficiency and formal structures, these informal spaces are precious. They remind us that leadership is relational, built through countless human exchanges, not just strategic plans. So today’s reflection is simple:

How present are we in the “in-between” spaces of our schools, teams, and communities?

Sometimes, the most important leadership happens when we least expect it.

Mark Pollitt, Founder of Seeds of Knowledge