Have you ever heard the saying, in times of chaos or emergency, look for the helpers? It’s one of those simple but profound insights that has stuck with me. But here’s the thing—helpers are more than just helpers. They are leaders.
A close friend of mine, a leadership expert (and yes, he has a PhD, so I’ll “grant” him that title— @GrantArmstrong), once told me that you can see a person’s authentic leadership when things aren’t going smoothly. That’s how you separate the real leaders from the others. Leadership isn’t about a title or a position. It’s about how people show up when things are tough. It aligns well with situational leadership—the idea that genuine leaders adapt, step up, and respond to the circumstances at hand.
And right now? The world needs leaders more than ever.
The Leadership Crisis in Organizations
Here’s what worries me: too many good leaders are exhausted. They’ve played the long game against the not-so-great (or, let’s be blunt—downright terrible) leaders. I’ve watched exceptional people walk away—from organizations, from politics, from industries they once loved—because when they stand out and speak up, they get taken down.
We’ve reached a point where standing up for what’s right, holding others accountable, or simply leading with integrity feels like an uphill battle. And it’s not just anecdotal. The fact that we’ve had to introduce bystander intervention laws tells me that we’ve had to motivate people to take a stand because the “it’s not my problem” is unfortunately too common.
Leadership Is Action, Not a Job Title
Leadership isn’t about being in the C-suite. It’s about action. It’s:
- The employee who calls out unethical practices, even when it risks their position.
- The leader who breaks with their political party when it’s heading in the wrong direction.
- The manager who protects their team instead of just protecting their own job.
- The person who runs into the fire—figuratively or literally—when everyone else is running away.
- It’s the person who steps forward and calls someone out on racist, sexist or aggressive comments.
- The person willing to fight the bully, not just for their own sake, but for the sake of others.
And let’s be clear: leadership isn’t always rewarded. In fact, it’s often punished. It’s a difficult place to be in – you can be criticized, misunderstood and frequently targeted. But it’s needed.
If You Can’t Find the Leader, Be the Leader
Right now, the world feels like a mess—politically, economically, socially, environmentally… pick your “-ally.” And sure, every generation has probably felt that way. But no matter the era, the saying holds: look for the helpers. They are the ones leading.
In our organizations today, we need more of these leaders. More people willing to step forward and say, I’ve got this. I’ve got you. Leaders who take responsibility—not for power, but for people.
So, if you’re looking around and don’t see that person, maybe—just maybe—it’s you.
If you are looking for new ways to lead, step forward or shift your focus (or know somebody who is), here are the new roles that we have found in higher education in Canada that intersect with WIL, Career Education and adjacent:
Newfoundland & Labrador
Student Development Officer (Co-operative Education Coordinator) (Temporary) – CNA
Closes: Feb 24, 2025
Apply here
Nova Scotia
Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE) & Service Learning – Cape Breton Medical Campus – Cape Breton University (CBU)
Closes: Mar 16, 2025
Apply here
Career Transition & Engagement Coordinator – Saint FX
Closes: Mar 7, 2025
Apply here
New Brunswick
Business Development and Training Advisor, Continuing Education – University of Moncton
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Ontario
Industry Liaison Officer – University of Guelph
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Employment Developer – Conestoga College
Closes: Feb 23, 2025
Apply here
Practicum Coordinator – Ontario Tech University
Closes: Feb 26, 2025
Apply here
Career Development & Relationship Manager (8-month Temp) – McMaster University
Closes: Feb 27, 2025
Apply here
Community Partnerships & Engagement Team Lead (Term) – U of T Scarborough
Closes: Feb 27, 2025
Apply here
Clinical Placement Coordinator – University of Toronto (St. George)
Closes: Mar 5, 2025
Apply here
Student Advisor/Field Placement Officer – Durham College
Closes: Feb 20, 2025
Apply here
Employment Consultant (2 Year I/O) – Cambrian College
Closes: Feb 21, 2025
Apply here
Saskatchewan
Program Manager – University of Regina
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Alberta
Work-Integrated Learning, Casual Administrative Assistant – NorQuest College
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Work-Integrated Learning Administrator – NorQuest College
Closes: Feb 21, 2025
Apply here
Industry Engagement Marketing Specialist (Term) – SAIT
Closes: Feb 27, 2025
Apply here
Events and Communications Assistant – Mount Royal University
Closes: Mar 19, 2025
Apply here
British Columbia
Co-op Education Coordinator – Simon Fraser University (SFU)
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Co-op Education Coordinator (Temp) – Simon Fraser University (SFU)
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here
Coordinator, Student Experience and Development – Simon Fraser University (SFU)
Closes: Feb 25, 2025
Apply here