H is for Holding: Containment in Complexity.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor E. Frankl.

“Holding” is a concept borrowed from psychology and coaching - it refers to a leader’s ability to contain uncertainty, emotion, and ambiguity without rushing to fix or flee.

In times of transition, holding becomes a critical skill. It allows teams to process change, rather than bypass it. Research in leadership coaching shows that containment fosters psychological safety and resilience.

In one founder-led business, the CEO was navigating a painful restructure. Instead of pushing for quick answers, they chose to “hold” the tension - naming the uncertainty, listening deeply, and resisting premature closure. The result? A more humane process, and a stronger culture.

Actionable Insight:

• Practice “strategic stillness” - pause before reacting. 

  
  

• Name the emotion in the room, without judgment.

  
  

• Use coaching-style questions: “What’s emerging here?” “What needs to be held, not solved?”

  
  

• Allow yourself reflective time to ‘stand in others shoes’ and consider their perspective.

Why it matters: Holding is not passive - it’s powerful. It creates space for insight, integration, and intentional action.

Kets de Vries, M. F. R. (2006). The leader on the couch: A clinical approach to changing people and organizations. Jossey-Bass. 

Cavanagh, M., & Lane, D. (2012). Coaching psychology coming of age: The challenges we face in the messy world of practice. International Coaching Psychology Review, 7(1), 75–90