How Do We Lead?
February 2, 2026
- Inactive? Abstain from action to engage or set direction. We used to call this laissez-faire – "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."
- Reactive? Respond to events and circumstances. This approach reflects an effort to fix and preserve the present.
- Preactive? Predict and plan for the future, to be ready for what's coming.
- Proactive? Design a desired future and strategically plan and act to make that future a reality!
(Some literature approaches 'preactive' and 'proactive' differently, but regardless of language usage, these are two distinct forms of action.)
There are situations in which we, as school and organizational leaders, utilize different styles to achieve desired objectives. However, our potential to have a transformational impact on our schools should drive us toward proactive leadership. We can actively shape our school's future.
Blessings,
David Wells
Our Partners
I met Carlos in 1978, a few months after his first birthday. Lois and I were embraced and loved by his family shortly after arriving in San José for language study. Since that time, we have remained close, with special times together, including a visit by Carlos and his mother visiting us in Puerto Rico and many family and business trips to Costa Rica. In recent years, Carlos worked for McKinsey & Company in various consulting capacities, building a stellar personal and professional profile. F or many years, I harbored a hope that Carlos would someday be involved with GLOBAL School Consulting Group so we could work together. That day came earlier year when GLOBAL was hired to provide services to Escuela Panamericana, San Salvador. His skills and insight complemented those of lead consultant Alfredo Umaña, and together, they delivered world-class organizational assessment and professional counsel to the owner-operators of the School. Shortly after that, again partnered with Alfredo, a proposal for services was submitted in response to another request from a client school in Central America. The long-held hope to work with Carlos seemed to be coming to fruition. But tragically, on October 23 of this year, Carlos unexpectedly passed away, leaving his wonderful wife and two daughters heartbroken and his loving and close-knit family devastated.
"What is not measured cannot be improved. What is not improved always deteriorates." This quote, attributed to British physicist and mathematician William Thomson Kelvin, underscores a fundamental truth: measurement and evaluation are essential steps in any process of continuous improvement.
Hundreds of schools and educational organizations around the globe have been well-served by the GLOBAL School Consulting Group since its inception in 2017. Despite this notable success and the recognition this brings to the Group, we continue to take steps to better serve schools and their leaders by enlisting outstanding Consultants and Partners who provide world-class services to our clients. We are very pleased and proud to announce the most recent additions to the Group:
