A problem to solve or a tension to manage?
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Sometimes we struggle to solve a leadership problem because it’s not a problem to be solved. What if it was a tension to be managed instead?
In our house I’m the designated COVID-19 expert. My wife and kids don’t read up and keep track of things to the degree that I do.
One of my big challenges is figuring out how to keep them updated without causing too much fear and anxiety. It’s a tightrope.
In everyday life I often err on the side of brutal facts and over communication. But this is not everyday life. So how do I solve this problem?
Many years ago I learned that some things are not problems to be solved. They are tensions to be managed. It’s about keeping your finger on the pulse and making lots of small judgement calls. It’s more like keeping a guitar in tune and less like building a house.
In this situation there are important things my family absolutely have to know and understand. Other things are either too speculative or of little immediate value. Here I need to manage the tension between their mental and emotional wellbeing and my need for sharing and discussion.
Right now it’s tough to think about anything other than the pandemic, lockdowns and economic fallout. But keep this idea of some things being a tension to be managed instead of a problem to be solved in mind for your future leadership challenges. It’s a model that has helped me a lot over the years.
One of my big challenges is figuring out how to keep them updated without causing too much fear and anxiety. It’s a tightrope.
In everyday life I often err on the side of brutal facts and over communication. But this is not everyday life. So how do I solve this problem?
Many years ago I learned that some things are not problems to be solved. They are tensions to be managed. It’s about keeping your finger on the pulse and making lots of small judgement calls. It’s more like keeping a guitar in tune and less like building a house.
In this situation there are important things my family absolutely have to know and understand. Other things are either too speculative or of little immediate value. Here I need to manage the tension between their mental and emotional wellbeing and my need for sharing and discussion.
Right now it’s tough to think about anything other than the pandemic, lockdowns and economic fallout. But keep this idea of some things being a tension to be managed instead of a problem to be solved in mind for your future leadership challenges. It’s a model that has helped me a lot over the years.