For Such a Time As This: What Coaching Offers in Liminal Space

Recently, in a conversation with a friend, the term "liminal space" came up. While it’s become a bit of a trendy phrase, I've found it to be helpful in various circumstances. It's a phrase that has become part of common vernacular in the last decade, and it holds depth and significance.

As part of Nashville’s MLK Day celebrations, last night, I attended a panel featuring three remarkable black women educational leaders in Nashville—Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, President of Tennessee State University; Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools; and Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, President of Nashville State CC. These giants are holding liminal space, leading with values and integrity, uncertain of where the journey will lead but steadfast in their commitment to the power of equitable education.

These leaders stand as a testament to the importance of discovering and living unwaveringly in our values and integrity, guiding us through liminal spaces. The journey of discovering and expressing our integrity with agency is at the heart of coaching work. It starts by answering, "Who do I want to be?"—with "What do I want to do?" following.

How often do you look at the world, throw your hands up, and wonder where to go from here? In coaching, the reminder is simple: as long as you take all of you with you, what's on the other side of the threshold is secondary.