Struggle begins with your first gasp for breath and ends with your last. Leaders struggle.
Wise leaders expose struggle wisely.
Leaders struggle with:
- Loneliness.
- Humility.
- Certainty.
- Image.
- Patience.
- Serving and self-interest.
- Authenticity and honesty.
- Purpose and meaning.
- Balance.
- Decisions.
- Priorities.
- Pushing performance or supporting progress.
(That was one of the easiest lists I ever wrote.)
Go further by learning the art of the struggle rather than ignoring it.
Hiding struggle intensifies struggle.
I talked with the author of, “Leadership and the Art of the Struggle,” about:
Public vs. private disclosure.
Always:
Snyder said, “Always consider the group’s reaction to publicly disclosing struggle.”
Publicly disclose what serves, nothing more. Keep self-serving, self-affirming disclosure private. Public disclosure must enhance:
- Individual relationships.
- Organizational objectives.
- Leadership effectiveness.
- Conflict resolution.
- Leadership development.
If this sounds inauthentic, too bad. Leadership positions aren’t for self-validation.
Outsider:
“Everyone needs someone they can be completely honest with.” Steven Snyder
Outside eyes guide public disclosure. Practice public disclosure privately.
Share your struggle with a mentor or coach and ask for their response. Their eyes expose anger or guilt, expand perspective, and anticipate reactions.
Progress:
Every disclosure of struggle must include illustrations of progress. Explain how you’re growing. Snyder said, “Don’t share struggles that are raw.” Share fresh struggle privately.
Growth:
Snyder said, “Sharing the struggle is the beginning of leadership growth.”
Leaders don’t grow until they disclose either privately or publicly.
Successful disclosure facilitates their growth, too. I often share my struggle where growth and development are the focus. Your struggle gives others permission and courage to grow.
Purchase: “Leadership and the Art of the Struggle: How Great Leaders Grow through Challenge and Adversity.”
What does leadership struggle look like, from your point of view?
How can public disclosure go wrong or right?