We are certainly living in
contentious times. For a variety of reasons, some very legitimate and some
imagined, we as a society are in a swirling process of joining camps and
causes, drawing lines and demanding limits, picking issues as we pick sides. As
a result, a common strategy is to disengage from those people and policies of
which we disagree through boycotts, protests, and “us versus them” social media
campaigns. Whereas such actions are legitimate it does cause me to think out loud
is it the best strategy to
produce the societal changes desired? You see, when we choose to disengage and
cut off dialogue, then what happens to our ability to influence outcomes?
I think it is human nature to
sometimes pick sides. It makes us feel good to think WE are better than THEM. We
hold the moral high ground and they are just wrong! The problem as I see
it is while we are so busy getting even, nothing is getting
done! I know this is hard to read for some of us who are so rightfully outraged
over organizational, local, national, or world events but you have to ask
yourself what is most important? What do you really want to see happen?
This is where courageous
leadership begins. This is where you have to decide what is more important,
your position on an issue or progress on an issue? I know it is a
tough choice to make but your answer will reflect how important lasting change
on an issue that is important to you really is. With that being said, I would
propose that when bad things happen around you that trouble you, you have to get
closer
to the people, groups, and situations that caused it or can influence outcomes,
not further away. You have got to let them know you are willing to engage with
them to resolve problems if they are willing to do so well. That truly is the
claiming the moral high ground! So, let’s say you are willing to give it a try,
here are three strategies that may help you:
Get
Proximate – Bryan Stevenson is an author and activist who heads up
the Equal Justice Initiative which focuses on
criminal justice reform, especially when it comes to youth offenders. He is
also the author of the compelling book, Just
Mercy. During a presentation at the Global Leadership Summit simulcast, Bryan
stressed the importance of becoming proximate to people and groups we
disagree with or don’t understand. His advice is when there are disagreements,
we need to engage more not less. When we do so, we can influence, gain
perspective, and, most importantly, make
progress!
Focus
More on the PROBLEM and Less on the PEOPLE –
Jared Cohen is the CEO of the Google offshoot, Jigsaw. Jigsaw is a social media influencer that directs
attention to a variety important issues such as ISIS and its use of social
media to recruit new members or combatting intentionally misleading content on
the web. His list of contacts extends on both sides of the political spectrum
and his reach is international. In a recent article in Fast Company magazine, members of his team discuss the importance
of focusing more on the PROBLEM versus the ACTORS involved. In other
words, if you focus on solely on the personalities involved you miss the
opportunity to make progress on what matters most. People will come and
go but the problems or issues we wish to address can still be there long after
they are gone.
Avoid
the Either/Or Trap – This is the tough one for many of us. When
we become so convinced of the “rightness” of our position or opinion that it
leaves no room for compromise or progress, then we create either/or scenarios
that essentially state, “either you comply with my position or
I will no longer engage with you.” Once that happens, there is no room for negotiation
or compromise. Further, problems that impact organizations and certainly societies
are too complex for either/or
thinking. Such issues are what leadership author Ron Heifetz calls in his book,
Leadership Without Easy Answers, “Type
III Problems." Essentially Type III problems are those that are difficult to define,
and possible solutions are equally unclear. When a problem has those characteristics,
we must commit to what he calls “adaptive work” in creating lasting solutions
to vexing problems.
Trust me, I get it. Sometimes
we get so fed up. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired! We just want
the issue and those associated with it to just go away. These are legitimate feelings,
but the problem is the issue and the people rarely do go away. They are still
present even if we disengage thus the issue or situation repeats itself and the
destructive cycle starts all over again.
But here’s the thing. If Dr.
King never engaged with President Johnson, the civil rights movement may not
have gained as much momentum as quickly as it did. If elected officials did not
engage with business leaders as much as they did in the early 1970s, environmental protections
may never have existed.
When a negative situation
arises in your organization, community, and beyond, I am not asking you to
compromise your principles and passions. I am simply asking to consider the
most effective leadership strategy to affect change. You probably have no idea
how influential you really are. Your passion will be an impact multiplier. Just
let others see it. Allow them to show you theirs. Find agreements and common
ground when and where you can. Respect the thoughts of others but make sure
they respect yours. At the end of the day, it is not about you or me. It is
about safer schools. It’s about healthy and safe workplaces free of harassment.
It’s about finding lasting solutions versus quick fixes.
As always if I can help you and
the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would
invite you to email me or to visit my website below and see if any of the
training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact. I am also
pleased to announce the launch of my first book, Leading Out Loud: Strategies for
Raising Your Leadership Voice! available on Amazon.com. It may just
help you develop your leadership platform around issues that are important to
you! Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and
enter your contact information, I will send you a FREE guide to establishing a
mentoring initiative program in your organization! Such an initiative would be
critical to add value to your organization!
Yours in Leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Principal Consultant – Out
Loud Strategies
Independent Coach, Speaker,
and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email
= bill@outloudinc.com
For more information on the
John Maxwell Team, please visit
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