Many business leaders talk about constructive challenging and I think this is because we have reacted so badly to it in the past that we need to put a caveat on it - can only be constructive!
When you use Thesauraus to replace challenging it is interesting to see the long list of negative words that appear and only down the very bottom do we see any positive and constructive word replacements - at the top we find words like disloyal, disobedient, testing, demanding, tough, defiant and it is only near the bottom of the list that we find words like stimulating, energising and inspiring!
Courageous leaders embrace challenging behaviour and know it results in learning and being the best we can be; and coming with a "growth mindset" and not a fixed mindset as described by Carol Dweck in her book called Mindset: "People in growth mindset don't just seek challenge, they thrive on it."
I love the quote from Anita Roddick (Founding CEO of Body Shop): "I think the leadership of a company should encourage the next generation not just to follow, but to overtake."
Challenging behaviour is the enabler and a foundation skill of the Courageous Leader - both in using it and in responding to and interacting with it when used by others.
Challenging is most frequently exhibited in business conversations between emerging and existing leaders and results in:
- existing habits being questioned
- current thinking being queried
- feedback being elicited
- feedback being given
- questions asked to seek furhter insights and information.
Despite the bulk of information online we often fail to get the specific information which is needed this post is good & contains relevant information that I was in quest of .I appreciate your efforts in preparing this post.
ReplyDeleteDissertation proposal