“Leadership Is Plumbing and Poetry”- James G. March
I came across this quote in Strong Ground by Brené Brown and loved it. She unpacks it in a full chapter that’s honestly phenomenal. I found myself journaling about it that night and thought it might be meaningful to share.
There’s a side of leadership no one applauds.
It’s the late-night email to clear up confusion. The calendar adjustments. The hard conversations. The quiet follow-through when something isn’t working.
That’s the plumbing.
It’s the systems, structures, and small decisions that keep everything flowing. It’s not glamorous, but it’s where trust is built. Because when things consistently leak, people stop believing in the bigger vision.
But leadership doesn’t stop there.
It’s also the moment someone sees themselves differently because of something you said. The question that shifts thinking. The vision that brings energy back into the work.
That’s the poetry.
It’s what gives leadership meaning. Because people don’t stay for systems alone!
They stay for purpose.
They stay for connection.
They stay for belief.
The tension is this...unfortunately, you don’t get to choose one.
Some leaders lean into plumbing. Everything is organized, efficient, and clear, but something feels flat. Others lead with poetry. Inspiration is high…but without structure, things begin to unravel.
Neither function on its own.
Real leadership lives in the space between.
It’s when your systems reflect your values.
When your processes support your purpose.
When your conversations move both the work and the people forward.
It looks like giving feedback that builds clarity and confidence.
It sounds like asking a question that sharpens thinking and affirms someone’s voice.
It feels like alignment…where what you say, what you do, and what you prioritize all mesh.
That’s where leadership becomes transformational.
So…
Where are you spending your time right now, plumbing or poetry?
What’s one system that needs your attention so things flow better?
What’s one conversation that could bring meaning back into the work?
Because leadership isn’t just about what gets done.
It’s about what gets built...
In systems,
In people,
And in the space between.
"Leadership is plumbing and poetry."
The best leaders refuse to choose.
