DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

A wise man once told me: «It takes good leadership to deliver a good year, year after year.»
I believe he was right. Leading a team—whether a student group, a startup, or a growth company—year after year isn’t easy. Life happens. Daily routines can disrupt. Even weekends cast their shadow over Mondays. These are factors we can’t fully anticipate in our plans and budgets.

We must lead in a way that embraces life’s unpredictability. We need the courage and agility to pivot when circumstances knock us – personally or collectively. We need the qualities of what I call the Perimeter-leader.

Picture a circle with a center and a perimeter.

Center-leaders are focused on maintaining a steady, well-managed year. They know their space intimately—they understand the known landscape and maintain stable operations. This is important work: keeping everything running smoothly takes exceptional leadership.

But now let’s consider the Perimeter-leaders.

Let’s go «Wild West»!

Just like explorers entering new territories, they begin at the edge of certainty—where the familiar meets the unknown.

• Scouts lead the way, light and agile, exploring new terrain. They return with stories and experiences that encourage others to step out.
• Pioneers follow, equipped to establish new camps—tangible symbols of possibility that expand our known territory.
• Settlers make it home there—creating culture, trade, and community in the new terrain—and eventually bringing others with them.

The circle grows, and the perimeter shifts outward.

We need perimeter-leaders. Otherwise, life—forces beyond our plans—will relentlessly push inward, wearing down the familiar world within our circle. Just as weekends influence our Mondays, the unknown impacts everything within our sphere.

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Why live—and lead—at the edge?

Living at the perimeter is about actively scouting new terrain: gaining new experiences, embracing discomfort, and growing beyond what you’ve known.

Yes, there is risk. Many scouts, pioneers, and settlers never return. Life can take them unexpectedly. But what is the alternative? To remain so familiar with the center that you’re blind to external pressures? The world beyond your known circle will eventually press in.

We can only remain resilient by taking new steps—personally, as leaders, and as teams or organizations. Every one of us, regardless of role, can choose to live at the edge of our experience.

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Ready to step outside your circle?

Consider these steps:

1. Read the situation with respect

Respect comes from latin, re-spectare, and reminds us to tak a look… and look again—before we conclude. You see, before you can make meaningful change, you need to read the situation and empathize with the people and challenges involved.

2. Explore new ground

Deliberately experiment at the boundary of your experience. Observe, learn, and bring back insights that you couldn’t have gained otherwise.

3. Understand your real boundary

Your limit isn’t the sum of all your knowledge or accomplishments—it’s the courage to step into the unknown. Acknowledge that no one “knows it all,” but your edge is defined by your mindset.

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Living in the perimeter means doing new things for different people—with humility, intention, and the readiness to adapt. It’s not just a strategy—it’s a way of leading with courage and curiosity in a world that refuses to stand still.