I wish I could say that the news since my last article hasn’t given me additional proof that the world is becoming more polarized and uncertain. But the reality continues to show us, worldwide, that we are living in a VUCA time—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. This series of articles aims to provide just-in-time, quick-to-apply strategies to help us remain thoughtful, capable, and steady in the midst of these moments. Each piece explores how we, as international school leaders, can model for others what it means to be emotionally self-regulated, mature, and respectful educators, even when the ground beneath us is shifting.

There are moments when we must stand firmly for what is right, safe, and just for our students. These articles are not about standing down in moments of injustice. Rather, they are about fostering understanding of underlying concerns and of each other’s perspectives. In our communications, we must aim to reduce “social friction.” The intellectual and emotional challenges are already big enough. Of course, polarizing times will look different in Africa than they will in South America, different in Asia than they might in the Middle East. Contextual awareness must inform how we use these skills in our schools.