Leading Through Churn

TLDR: Do you know a leader who excels at building trust both through systems and relationships? Are you that leader? I'd love to learn more about what they/you do and how?

Inspired by a recent favorite read, Churn, I am seeking insights from across industries and life stories as I develop and lead bespoke workshops for teams that build on the exceptional insights synthesized by the book. I am grateful for any suggestions and introductions.

A tad more about CHURN (yes, get yourself a copy, ASAP):

Churn reminds us that the antidote to deeply unsettling relational tension is curiosity. Recently published by social psychologist Claude Steele, Churn builds on the importance of his decades of leadership and work on stereotype threat by inviting us to embrace the inevitable churn of diverse and often threatening environments by committing to curiosity and cultivating trust.

Easier said than done. Much easier said than done!

Successful leaders know that productive systems and rewarding relationships are inextricably linked. This is because innovation, productivity, accountability, and trust go hand-in-hand.

For more than two decades I have built systems and supported / mentored people within them with the singular goal of cultivating communities where people can do their best learning and working collectively and on behalf of something greater than themselves. And, ironically to some -- but of no surprise to those of you steeped in the work of coaching and leadership development -- it is through a commitment to purposeful growth for something greater than oneself that the greatest (and most sustainable!) individual achievements are met.

I could not be more grateful to Claude Steele for synthesizing the power and potential of curiosity and humility (he uses the term wiseness, instead of curiosity and humility) to bridge tensions and build any group's collective capacity to trust one another enough to develop a shared vision for what's possible and meaningful for everyone involved.

No need to trust me on this, the evidence is clearly and insightfully explained through the book. And while the book makes the opportunity clear, it's up to all of us to do the work to implement the learning and invest in the some of the foundational building blocks he puts forth as next steps in our journey towards managing churn.

If you know someone who is already deeply trusted as a leader because of they ways they build relationships and leverage excellent growth and accountability systems, brag a little! Share their name with me, and while you're at it, be sure they know that you think they're leading in a powerful way. Leadership can be lonely, especially if you are pushing against a status quo that asks you to move faster and skip the bit about human connection. The best leaders know that developing human connections and systems that reward curiosity are critical for long-term success, but they are often challenged by those around them when they invest time and resources there.

My commitment to you is to share a synthesis of what I learn from everyone who shares with me. We need to hear tips and insights from one another. This cultural shift is going to take a village.