I’ve been thinking about Seamus Heaney’s poem Scaffolding lately

And not because I have a building project on the go.

In the poem, he describes how masons test their scaffolding carefully, checking planks, ladders, and joints before they start their building work. And yet, when the building is finished, all that scaffolding comes down to reveal a wall of “sure and solid stone.”

It struck me how much this mirrors how we can best build lasting relationships as leaders: by laying down connection and trust before moving on to problem-solving.

Earlier in my career, I often skipped that stage. I’d dive straight into solutions, eager to prove value. It worked, up to a point, but the relationships were often shallow. Without a strong foundation, they remained transactional and fizzled once the “scaffolding” was removed.

Now when I start working with a founder or senior leader as a coach, our first task isn’t to fix problems or rush into solutions. It’s to put up the scaffolding: to invest in trust, rapport, and psychological safety. Because without that frame in place, the work can’t endure.

I see that scaffolding as one of the most important parts of our work. If we build it well:
• We can challenge each other honestly.
• We can tackle difficult issues without fear.
• We can take risks, knowing the relationship will hold.

And when the scaffolding comes down, what remains is a relationship built on solid stone, strong enough to withstand pressure and change.

Whether you’re a leader, a founder, a coach, or part of a team, the lesson is the same: don’t shortcut the scaffolding. Without it, the walls rarely last.

Here’s Heaney’s poem in full (worth reading slowly):

Masons, when they start upon a building,
Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be
Old bridges breaking between you and me

Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall
Confident that we have built our wall.