3 Ways Real Leaders Hold Space for Contentious Issues
How can effective leaders hold attention to the critical and contentious issues for long enough for work to be done?
The last few years have seen a rapid shift in the makeup and operation of leadership teams. There is greater diversity in thought, gender, race and values. This is a good thing, but also presents several challenges for those in leadership.
How do leaders mobilise support across a variety of different functions or opinions without simply relying on their power of authority? This type of leadership – leadership that holds attention to the critical and contentious issues for long enough for work to be done – takes into account the many views and allows ideas for progress to emerge and gain support for implementation.
Real leadership of this nature requires several key steps:
First, lead people to have a deeper understanding of what is happening in the wider system that surrounds an issue. Like a doctor examining a patient, this diagnostic phase is designed to surface the nature and complexity of the problem and inform the moves a leader will need to make.
Second, as the nature of the many facets of the issue become evident, don't just shine a light on those factors that support your perspective; boldly surface and examine the tensions and inconsistencies, seeking out alternative views.
Third, propose pathways to progress and create the understanding that these pathways involve compromise and loss by some factions, and are not technical solutions as they require many to adjust their perspectives and choices. The proposals will create heat in the system. This heat is necessary to allow the necessary learning and adjustment to occur and through this last phase, leadership is needed to allow a productive tension to be maintained.
A word of caution – exercising leadership in this way is tough and challenging. Having the courage to draw attention to contentious issues without authority to “fix” them invites a myriad of responses that vary from disregard to character attacks. It will take great courage and tenacity to stay the course and not be discouraged, even when things get uncomfortable in a meeting room.
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