Sharing Leadership Ideas from Real Life
Each Thursday, I’ll launch a topic for discussion, dialogue, debate, and introspective conversation. In group facilitation situations, I ask the participants to reframe disagreement from the category of a “weapon” to the category of a “creative tool.” This change in paradigm allows for very lively and productive discussions to happen. It takes away the risk of feeling like participants are criticizing each other and allows them to be free to point to ideas and concepts without having to pretend to be polite or pretend to agree. We have been conditioned to feel that disagreement is not polite. In fact, disagreement is a way to be in integrity.
We find that it’s okay to disagree. Many times we find new ideas, fresh perspectives, and opposite polarities that make sense. Healthy dialogue does not depend on everybody agreeing; in fact, if everybody agrees, it’s a boring discussion, and we might get trapped by not exposing blind spots that could limit our effectiveness as leaders and as an organization.
In that spirit, I offer a chance for dialogue on topics related to leadership. I will choose topics that have high visibility in the news or in certain communities of interest, such as business, entrepreneurship, religion, and social benefit work. I welcome suggestions for other topics. I’m sure that there are many, many to choose from.
Will you contribute your ideas? Please comment using the form below.
Today’s topic:
Sen. John McCain joins critics of Roger Goodell
Here’s a great topic from a recent article in USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2015/01/25/john-mccain-rips-roger-goodell-handling-of-controversies/22327257/
Here’s the theme of the article: “Arizona’s Republican Senator and former presidential candidate slammed Commissioner Roger Goodell for his role in not diffusing controversies that have dogged the NFL this season — and for inaction in regards to the latest flap, Deflategate.”
I read this that McCain is criticizing Goodell for ineffective leadership. I know that leaders can cause problems and/or make problems worse.
Please respond to one or more of these questions about Goodell’s leadership, good or bad:
- It seems that Roger Goodell has dodged the controversial issues with the NFL and allowed the media to define each situation. I see this as irresponsible leadership. What’s your opinion?
- Making a public statement can diffuse a potentially toxic situation. Goodall did not come forward with a statement that helped. Did this help or ignite the situation?
- Effective leaders move toward conflict. It seems that Goodell moved away from conflict and dodged the controversy. Is that true or not?
- Many times, leaders are not transparent with the internal situations and compromise their performance. Do you see Goodell’s lack of leadership as being limited by internal politics?
Hugh Ballou
The Transformational Leadership Strategist TM
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