RISING: A Leadership Model for Systemic Change

Author - Carly Bush



Leadership isn’t just about titles or tactics — it’s about how we rise. In moments of challenge, transition, and quiet transformation, true leadership reveals itself not in control, but in care. Not in certainty, but in reflection. The RING method — Rising in

Responsibility, Integrity, Nurture, and Growth — offers a framework for leaders who are ready to lead with both strategy and soul.

This model was born from the lived reality of leading through complexity: navigating the highs and lows of leadership, being coached by extraordinary mentors, and working with people who, at their core, weren’t equipped to lead others. It emerged while designing programs under pressure and holding space for others while evolving yourself. RING is a compass for those who believe leadership is relational, resilient, and rooted in values.

To deepen this practice, leaders can apply the RING pillars — a values-driven tool authored by Carly Bush that helps organisations assess decisions, programs, and leadership behaviours through the lens of equity, cultural safety, and systemic impact. Together, RING guides how we rise and clarify what matters.

Rising in Responsibility

When the stakes are high, responsibility is what steadies us. It’s the choice to lead with integrity — to own decisions, communicate transparently, and remain accountable to both people and purpose. In moments of public scrutiny or sector-wide reform, responsibility means showing up with clarity and courage.

I recently found myself in a moment where leadership meant standing still while everything around me shifted. A sudden funding challenge emerged, and I knew instinctively that my role wasn’t to shield people from the truth — it was to face into it, with steadiness and clarity. I didn’t delay the hard conversations or outsource the messaging. I gathered my team, named the challenge plainly, outlined the options, and invited them into the process. I made space for grief, for uncertainty, and for hope. My confidence wasn’t rooted in having all the answers — it came from being prepared, emotionally present, and deeply accountable. That moment didn’t just preserve morale; it strengthened our culture. It reminded us that trust is built not in perfection, but in how we show up when it matters most.

When you step into a leadership role, you don’t just take on a title — you take on responsibility. You become the person others look to in moments of uncertainty, change, and challenge. That responsibility carries weight: the weight of accountability, of decision-making, of being the one who sets the tone when others are unsure.

But leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about how you show up. And showing up with empathy, emotion, and integrity isn’t weakness — it’s strength. It’s the kind of strength that says, I see you. I’m with you. And I’ll lead us through this, not around it.

As a leader, I’ve learned that vulnerability and clarity can coexist. That naming fear doesn’t diminish authority — it builds trust. That upholding values in the face of pressure is what defines culture. When we lead with empathy, we model what strength looks like in uncertainty. We show our teams that courage isn’t about control — it’s about connection.

Responsibility, then, is not just about outcomes. It’s about presence. It’s about being the person who others “face in to,” and knowing that how you lead — with integrity, empathy, and emotional intelligence — will shape not just the moment, but the legacy.

Rising in Integrity

Integrity is the anchor of courageous leadership. It’s the quiet, unwavering commitment to values — even when the stakes are high, the path is unclear, or the pressure to compromise is loud. Integrity isn’t just about doing what’s right; it’s about staying aligned with purpose, even when no one is watching.

In moments of tension or transition, integrity rises. It shows up in the decisions we make, the truths we honour, and the boundaries we hold. It’s what allows leaders to move through complexity without losing clarity. To say no when it matters. To speak truth to power with grace. To lead with conviction, not convenience.

Integrity can be cultivated. Through reflective practice, values-based coaching, and intentional team culture, leaders can strengthen their inner compass. When integrity rises, leadership becomes not just strategic — but deeply trustworthy, transformative, and enduring.

Rising in Nurture

To nurture is to lead with care. It’s about creating environments where others can grow — and where you grow alongside them. In culturally safe leadership, nurture means prioritising emotional intelligence, intergenerational wisdom, and the wellbeing of those we serve. It’s about recognising that leadership is relational, and that trust is built not through authority, but through empathy, consistency, and presence.

Nurture shows up in the quiet decisions: how we hold space in meetings, how we respond to vulnerability, how we honour lived experience. It’s in the way we design programs that centre community voice, and in the way we lead teams through uncertainty with compassion rather than control. It’s also in how we care for ourselves — because sustainable leadership requires self-nurture too.

For leaders, nurturing others starts with asking:

•           Are we creating space for growth and vulnerability?

•           Do our systems support wellbeing, not just productivity?

•           Are we culturally safe? Do we have trust and empathy?

•           Are we actively demonstrating our values — not just stating them?

Nurture is not soft. It’s strategic. It’s what allows people to feel seen, heard, and empowered. And in times of change, it’s what holds teams together. When we rise in nurture, we lead in ways that honour both the individual and the collective — and we build cultures where care is not an afterthought, but a foundation.

Rising in Growth

Growth is not just a goal — it’s a rhythm. It’s the ongoing evolution of self, team, and system. In the RING model, growth is about sustainable impact: scaling programs, deepening partnerships, and expanding your own capacity as a leader. It’s not about chasing more — it’s about becoming more intentional, more aligned, and more capable of driving change that lasts.

True growth is layered. It’s the quiet shifts in mindset, the bold steps into new roles, the strategic decisions that stretch an organisation’s reach without compromising its values. It’s the courage to challenge outdated systems, and the humility to learn from those we serve. Growth means asking not just what’s next, but what matters most.

I’ve seen growth in action when a team moved from reactive service delivery to proactive systems advocacy. It wasn’t just a structural shift — it was a mindset change. They invested in leadership development, clarified their purpose, and built partnerships that amplified their impact. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s cultivated.

For leaders, growth must be intentional and values-led. It can be embedded into development plans and performance reviews by asking:

• What does growth look like for me this year — professionally, personally, and relationally?

• How am I supporting others to evolve, not just perform?

• Are we growing in ways that align with our values, our communities, and our long-term vision?

• Are we creating space for reflection, experimentation, and legacy-building — not just output?

Rising in growth means embracing change not as disruption, but as opportunity. It’s about leading with vision, learning with humility, and building systems that grow people, not just programs.

The RING method invites leaders to rise with intention, connection, and impact. Designed for those who build coalitions and steward legacy, it reframes leadership as a partnership between care and progress.

RING stands for Responsibility, Integrity, Nurture, and Growth — four pillars that guide how we lead through challenge, build trust, and evolve with purpose. Whether mentoring, managing crisis, or driving systemic reform, this framework helps leaders honour people, culture, and legacy.

For anyone wanting more information or a copy of the framework to use in your leadership development, you can subscribe here at www.carlybush.com.au