One of the most foundational books that I read during my time as Mayor of St. Catharines was written by Tim Arnold called The Power of Healthy Tension. It was a powerful book that gave me the tools to understand that tensions in relationships - both personal and at work - are not all bad and in fact we live with tension every day. It's how we manage the tensions that makes the difference.
Tim followed up The Power of Healthy with Lead with And, and it was another game changer for me leading during a very turbulent time in our community. Lead with And demonstrated the power of listening and using "and" instead of words like "but" to get to a better place of understanding and consensus.
Tim Arnold has spent over two decades helping leaders manage complexity, increase resilience, and deliver results, with clients that include The United Nations, Royal Bank of Canada, Allstate Insurance, Compassion International, Toyota, and Siemens. After running both a for-profit business and a homeless shelter, he leverages his real-world experience to help organizations pursue both profit and purpose.
On this episode, Time and I explore the concepts of healthy tensions and leading with and as ways to better address the societal challenges facing communities.