What is Healthy Tension?
An essential skill every leader needs to succeed.
Being a leader means you and your team have to deal with...
Conflicting values
Polarizing points of view
Complex issues
Most people assume that tension is bad,
so they either ignore it or avoid it.
However, great leaders know tension is actually unavoidable and they need to learn to manage it.
Their challenge is to find the right training so they can tap into the power of healthy tension.
Kim Stone
Executive VP,
Miami Heat
“Healthy Tension is a simple yet profound concept that our senior executives are now raving about. You kept the crowd engaged and we were able to have fun and learn at the same time!”
It’s time to stop seeing these as problems to solve and start thinking about these as tensions to manage:
Being Optimistic
AND
Being Realistic
Embracing Change
AND
Preserving Stability
Being Profit Focused
AND
Being Purpose Driven
Having Expectations
AND
Extending Grace
Caring for Others
AND
Caring for Yourself
Building Confidence
AND
Remaining Humble
*These are just a few of the many unavoidable tensions you and your leaders and teams are facing every day.
Our President, Tim Arnold, has dedicated his professional life to helping leaders like you learn how to manage healthy tension.
5 Truths Every Leader Needs to Understand About Tension
Tensions are Unsolvable
As leaders, we’re often wired to find solutions. But here’s the truth: some tensions in leadership aren’t meant to be solved. They’re ongoing challenges we must learn to manage.
The real question isn’t “Have I solved this?” but rather, “Is this tension healthy or unhealthy?“
Choosing One Side Won’t Work for Long
Focusing on one side of a tension to the neglect of the other, will always work against you.
For example, overdone change to the neglect of stability will result in chaos and confusion. Overdone stability to the neglect of change will result in becoming stagnated and outdated.
There’s Wisdom in Resistance
Someone who sees the situation from a different point of view has a perspective you need.
Our blindspots can lead to vulnerable or even dangerous decision making. The best way to move from seeing things from our limited point of view is through the challenge, resistance, and push-back of others.
It’s Not About Compromise
Healthy tension isn’t about settling for a watered-down middle ground.
True success comes from finding ways to harness the full value of both sides of a tension over time.
There’s Power in the Word “AND”
The word “but” is one of the most polarizing words in the English language – pushing people away and making them feel like you are against them.
Successful leaders choose to use the word “and” instead. It forces you to slow down your thinking and fosters a more collaborative environment
Why Trust Us?
BASED ON RESEARCH AND 30+ YEARS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Over his 30+ year career, our president, Tim Arnold, has developed his evidenced-based, trainings to develop leaders to embrace the power of healthy tension.
WE’VE HELPED THOUSANDS OF LEADERS
We’ve helped thousands of clients learn to harness the power of ‘AND’ thinking in what’s becoming an increasingly ‘EITHER/OR’ world.
Companies like these trust us to train their leaders and so can you.
Here’s proof that managing healthy tension is an essential skill for all leaders.
The concept of Healthy Tension has become one of the most useful tools in our company's toolkit. It has transformed our understanding of how to approach issues like team building, leadership, change management, and developing healthy dialogue on tough topics.
Tensions coexist and this workshop provided tangible skills and tools that can be immediately implemented in a dynamic, diverse workplace to balance competing objectives and strategically plan for the near, medium and long term future.
The strategies Tim presented will greatly enhance our team members ability to navigate tensions in the workplace and become more confident and resilient. We highly recommend Tim to any organization looking to cultivate purposeful and result-driven leaders.
Thank you for providing a very engaging and interactive workshop. We appreciated your energy and found the learning component of the workshop applicable to work and personal life. The feedback from the team has been incredible!
A message from Leader for Leaders Program Director
Claudia Valle ...
As a leader, do you ever feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle against broken systems, impossible demands, and unreasonable people? I know I have.
If you’ve found yourself struggling to navigate the complexities of leadership without becoming jaded or bitter, you’re not alone. Many great leaders have discovered a powerful secret to maintaining their effectiveness and enthusiasm.
The key is to move beyond traditional problem-solving approaches and embrace the transformational power of holding things in tension.
You might be thinking, “Claudia, that sounds complicated.” But I assure you, it’s not as difficult as it seems. In fact, tensions in leadership are 100% predictable, and understanding them can be your pathway to success.
Your work as a leader is crucial, and the world needs your leadership now more than ever. I invite you to join successful leaders worldwide who have the courage to move beyond problem-solving and tap into the power of healthy tension.
Get Tim's Best-Selling Books About Healthy Tension
Start with one of these 2 foundational,
skill building books on managing tension
Tensions in teamwork
Tensions in times of change
Each of these has also been made into a 3-hour workshop or a 60-minute Keynote you can bring to your team!
Healthy Tension in the World
Healthy Tension Interviews & Podcasts You Can Listen to Today!
If you've read this far,
what are you waiting for?
Book a call with us to explore how we can train you and your leaders on how to tap into the power healthy tension.
