TEACHING A LEADER TO FISH: BUILDING STRATEGIC DISCERNMENT, AGENCY, AND LEADERSHIP CAPACITY
Introduction The phrase “ t eaching a leader to fish ” adapts the familiar proverb: Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day; teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime . In leadership development, this idea means that a coach, mentor, or supervisor should not simply solve a leader’s immediate problem. Instead, they should help the leader develop the capacity to think, discern, prioritize, and act strategically in future situations. The mini-case about Eddie and Kendra illustrates this approach. Eddie is coaching Kendra, a deputy superintendent facing multiple urgent and complex challenges: preparing principals for a leadership institute, deepening math instruction, supporting teachers, orienting new school board members, and navigating uncertainty with the superintendent. Rather than telling Kendra what to do, Eddie helps her identify what matters most, where she has leverage, and how to focus her energy wisely. This article explores the leadership les...