The Recent Campus Unrest Challenges What and How We Should Think About Leadership

Dear Reader,

Most of my leadership essays are inspired by dialogues with my clients around issues or concerns they are dealing with. It's easy for me to draw from the well of things I have learned or developed observing leaders over the years.

This week's piece is different. The college protests that have captured my attention, along with what seems to be a significant portion of the general public - have challenged me to think about things I have not explored sufficiently deeply. It is a matter of what I have learned rather than what I know. And that is precisely what I wish for you. As leaders, we best serve others when we live and operate in learning mode - when it is much easier to default to knowing mode.

If I could impart one thing that might be most valuable about becoming a better leader, it would be this: You must be an exemplar of the behaviors you need and expect from those you serve.

-PRL

The Recent Campus Unrest Challenges What and How We Should Think About Leadership

The recent campus protests dominating the news media and becoming the fodder of partisan politicians have sparked my concern and piqued my interest. Beyond the surface-level unrest, violence, and emerging antisemitism and Islamophobia, there are profound leadership issues at play. These issues, far-reaching and impactful, extend beyond the political implications of factionalism, shaping our culture, psyche, and the overall welfare of American and global society.

Leaders routinely face challenges around change, whether initiating or responding to it. All leaders grapple with the consequences of their decisions—and those they avoid making. The complexity and danger surrounding the current civil discourse raise a more difficult question for leaders: How do we deal with rebellion??

Rebellion within an organization, when employees actively challenge the authority of its leadership, is not just a challenge but a potential threat to its very existence. The repercussions can be severe, even fatal, for a company or organization. The only viable solution is effective leadership. However, many leaders find themselves ill-prepared to navigate these treacherous waters.?

Every organization experiences a certain?level of drama, a natural outcome of how people perceive and handle their differences. Some are mere disagreements, but they can escalate into grievances that breed distrust, disunity, and dysfunction. The root of this issue often lies in our ineffective communication. The behaviors are symptoms of individuals interpreting the world through their own lenses, deriving divergent meanings from the same situations. This is a leadership challenge that can be overcome by providing clarity and fostering a shared sense of purpose.

Rebellion is pernicious because it is fueled by inflamed emotions, often informed by irrational thinking. It can take on a life of its own, giving rise to a phantom leader and placing the current leadership in a perilous position. A reductive assessment of the options generally speaks to simple and?wrong solutions.

The reflex is to exert your power and quash the rebellion. Negotiating may feel like a sign of weakness and a form of surrender. However, remaining reactive is likely to escalate the situation, yet this is how most leaders behave.

Beyond the loss of control, the more significant threat is the uncertainty that rebellions or insurrections produce. The problem is the unwillingness to accept and embrace that uncertainty. When leaders feel threatened, backed into a corner, or scared, they will likely become reactive when the solutions require creativity. You must ask the right questions to find the best answers.

You begin by asking yourself questions that will help you understand your relationship to the problems. You also must be willing to let down your shield and realize that your greatest power is in your ability to demonstrate genuine curiosity by asking powerful questions and be vulnerable by allowing others to see that?you?do not have all the answers.?

When you give up the need to be certain or right, you open yourself to the possibility of finding creative ways to build bridges, mend fences, and forge otherwise impossible bonds.

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