Episode 240: Leading Through What You Can’t Control

In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard dives deep into one of the hardest challenges leaders face — guiding their teams through circumstances completely outside their control. From district-wide budget cuts to post-COVID uncertainty, Darrin explores how leaders can help their teams release what they can’t control and regain focus, trust, and agency around what they can.

Drawing on a real coaching conversation and a personal story from his time as a superintendent, Darrin outlines how acknowledging loss, re-centering on purpose, and empowering staff voice can rebuild trust and momentum during difficult times. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use in your next leadership meeting — including a powerful exercise to help your team “throw away” the things they can’t control and reclaim focus on what truly matters.

In this episode:

• The emotional toll leaders and teams experience during crises
• How to help your people let go of what’s beyond their control
• A real-world example from a post-COVID leadership retreat
• Three concrete leadership actions to rebuild trust and focus
• A simple reflection question to guide your next team meeting

Leaders can’t fix everything — but they can bring calm, clarity, and courage to those they serve.