Leadership and Resilience in Journalism: Insights from Amelia Adams on the “Courage to Lead” Podcast
In a recent episode of the Courage to Lead podcast, host Alan interviewed Amelia Adams, a senior reporter for 60 Minutes Australia. Their conversation explored Amelia’s extensive career in journalism, offering a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and curiosity in a demanding industry. This blog post distills key insights from the episode, focusing on leadership principles that can inspire both aspiring journalists and those in any field seeking to lead with purpose and perseverance.
The Power of Storytelling and Leadership
Amelia Adams has spent years covering major political and social events, and in her view, storytelling is at the heart of impactful journalism. But storytelling isn’t just about reporting the facts—it’s about amplifying voices, especially those who are often unheard. Amelia’s leadership in journalism centers around the responsibility to elevate diverse narratives and foster understanding among audiences.
Key Takeaways:
- Amplify Diverse Voices: Amelia Adams stressed the importance of lifting up marginalised voices in journalism, especially during politically charged moments like the U.S. elections. By sharing the stories of everyday people, particularly those who may feel misunderstood or overlooked, journalists can offer a more complete, nuanced perspective on complex issues.
- Empathy as a Leadership Tool: To truly connect with interviewees and understand their perspectives, Amelia highlighted the role of empathy. By fostering authentic relationships, journalists—and leaders in any field—can create an environment of trust that leads to richer, more honest dialogue.
Leaders in journalism, Amelia notes, have the power to shape how the public perceives events and issues. This leadership role demands not only skill in storytelling but also an acute sense of empathy and awareness of social dynamics.
Resilience: The Core of Leadership
Throughout the conversation, Amelia Adams repeatedly returned to the idea of resilience as a cornerstone of success. In an industry that is high-pressure, often unpredictable, and emotionally taxing, resilience is crucial for longevity. But resilience isn’t just about bouncing back after failure; it’s about maintaining a sense of purpose and focus through the inevitable ups and downs of a career.
Key Takeaways:
- Perseverance Through Pressure: Amelia’s work in international reporting—often in war zones and political hotspots—requires mental toughness and the ability to perform under extreme pressure. Leaders in any field, she argues, must cultivate this resilience to weather crises and unexpected challenges.
- Learning from Setbacks: Amelia shared that mistakes, whether on a story or in interpersonal dynamics, are inevitable. However, it’s how one responds to those setbacks that defines long-term success. Leaders should view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a defeat.
Amelia’s leadership journey reflects a deep commitment to resilience, both personally and within her teams. This resilience isn’t about being infallible but about the ability to adapt and persist.
Curiosity: Fueling Innovation and Growth
Another key trait Amelia Adams emphasised was curiosity. Journalism, at its core, is about asking questions, challenging assumptions, and seeking the truth in unexpected places. Amelia’s career trajectory—from regional reporting to international correspondent—has been driven by an insatiable curiosity about the world and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Key Takeaways:
- Ask the Right Questions: Curiosity drives the investigative process. Leaders, like journalists, should always be questioning the status quo and searching for deeper understanding. In Amelia’s experience, asking insightful, probing questions is what leads to breakthroughs in stories—and in leadership.
- Growth Through Exploration: For those in leadership positions, fostering curiosity within your team can lead to innovative solutions and personal growth. By encouraging others to explore new ideas and question conventional wisdom, leaders can cultivate a more dynamic, adaptive environment.
Curiosity is more than just a personal quality; it’s a leadership strategy that allows individuals to break new ground and drive change.
Leading Through Transitions
Amelia Adam’s career is a testament to the power of embracing transitions. She moved from small-town regional news to covering global events as an international correspondent. Each stage of her journey involved new challenges, and Amelia spoke candidly about the importance of being open to change and navigating those transitions with confidence.
Key Takeaways:
- Seizing Opportunities: Amelia’s career shifts show how important it is to be open to new opportunities, even when they come with uncertainty. Leaders must be willing to step out of their comfort zones, learn new skills, and adapt to different environments to grow.
- Failure is a Stepping Stone: Early career mistakes taught Amelia Adams invaluable lessons. Rather than dwelling on these failures, she viewed them as stepping stones that helped shape her professional identity. Leaders must create an environment where their teams feel safe to fail, learn, and grow.
For anyone moving through a period of change, whether in journalism or another field, Amelia’s experience reinforces that leadership requires courage to embrace new challenges and a mindset that sees growth in every experience.
Kindness: The Unsung Leadership Quality
While much of the conversation focused on resilience, curiosity, and career transitions, Amelia Adams also touched on an often overlooked but powerful leadership trait: kindness. In the high-stakes world of journalism, and especially in leadership roles, it can be easy to become hardened or detached. However, Amelia emphasised that kindness—not just in personal interactions but in how we lead teams—is essential to long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
- Lead with Compassion: Amelia Adams advocates for leaders who foster a supportive, collaborative environment where people feel valued and heard. In journalism, as in other fields, teamwork is critical, and creating a culture of kindness can drive greater productivity and morale.
- Support Others’ Growth: A good leader is invested in the growth of others. By being generous with your time, advice, and encouragement, leaders can empower their teams to reach their full potential.
Amelia’s reminder that kindness is integral to leadership is an important one, especially in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Final Thoughts: Leadership is a Continuous Journey
Amelia Adams’ conversation on the Courage to Lead podcast was a powerful reminder that leadership in journalism—and in any field—requires a blend of resilience, curiosity, kindness, and a commitment to growth. By approaching challenges with an open mind, maintaining empathy, and staying true to one’s purpose, aspiring leaders can navigate the complexities of their careers with confidence and impact.
For those looking to emulate Amelia’s leadership style, the key is to stay authentic, remain curious, and, most importantly, empower others. True leadership isn’t about titles or authority—it’s about the ability to inspire, uplift, and bring out the best in those around you. Whether in journalism, business, or any other field, these principles of leadership can help shape a fulfilling, impactful career.
In the end, as Amelia Adam’s journey illustrates, the greatest leaders are those who not only rise to the occasion but also lift others as they rise.