Leading Rurally in the Days Ahead: Shared Principles for Practice

This chapter serves as a reflection on the various ‘leading rurally’ stories in this volume. An analysis of the themes, insights and issues raised across the chapters led to a number of key agentive strategies being identified. Using the notion that a well-told story can be a powerful communication tool, these strategies are described as four storylines and highlighted as standpoint, collective leaderships skills, working ‘out of place’, and adopting an intergenerational approach. At the heart of each storyline is the notion of the importance of knowing place and for effective leaders to work with and from place to become a ‘place serving leader’. Throughout the volume, it is clear that rural communities are diverse and the people within any rural place do not form a homogenous group. Indeed, the stories shared highlight the increasing political and ideological divides occurring in rural contexts. Tensions are played out publicly in hyperlocal places. Effective leaders need to be able to hold such tensions and listen to diverse perspectives, honouring different views and ways of being. Working collectively across a range of alliances and considering insider–outsider positionality are just some of the strategies discussed to overcome such tensions. Overall, the chapter provides valuable and hopeful considerations for future rural leaders to include in their repertoire.