Wayfinding Leadership: Groundbreaking Wisdom for Developing Leaders

By Dr Chellie Spiller, Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, John Panoho

For generations, Polynesian wayfinders have navigated vast oceans without maps or instruments — relying instead on deep observation, ancestral knowledge, and attunement to the natural world. Their extraordinary journeys, including the first human settlement of Aotearoa, have been compared to voyages to the moon.

Wayfinding offers a powerful metaphor for leadership in today’s complex world. A wayfinding leader sees clearly — both the detail and the bigger picture — and is grounded in self-awareness, relational insight, and the ability to navigate uncertainty with presence and purpose.

In our book Wayfinding Leadership, we invite readers on a developmental journey using the waka as a framework — with parts like the hoe (paddle) symbolising self-reflection and connection. Each chapter includes practical inquiries to help leaders unlock their full potential.

Wayfinding leadership isn’t just a method — it’s a mindset. One rooted in curiosity, collective responsibility, and the belief that we are in the waka together. The true gift is not the destination, but who we become along the way.