Pay Attention to Tension with T. Falcon Napier

A Leadership Beyond

Our guest this week is T. Falcon Napier, an internationally-recognized human development expert, specializing in sales, leadership and change management. He is the Founder of the Institute for Productive Tension® — an organization that researches the role of Productive Tension® in human performance.

Mr. Napier is best known for bringing the principles, tools and techniques of professional Tension Management® to corporate audiences worldwide through his three flagship programs: ChangeWorks!®, MasterStream® and Pride-Based Leadership®. He is also creator of the ChangeGrid® — the world’s only client-driven, activity-specific coaching and management tool.

When we hear the word tension, our thoughts immediately go to high levels of tension, stress. The terms “tension” and “stress” have almost become synonymous.

Oh, I’m so stressed, so tense.

While it’s true that leaders need a strategy for dealing with stakeholders experiencing high levels of tension, it is equally true and often overlooked that leaders need a strategy for dealing with little to no tension and all points between.

If we want to positively influence change, we must pay attention to where people experience tension.

In this episode, T. Falcon Napier helps us to see how to help people in a personal or professional situation to lead desired change more successfully by monitoring and managing the level of productive tension in themselves and others.

A Leadership Beyond exists to support the alignment between the business strategy and people strategy - to drive results with people not at the expense of people (Talent Optimization).

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As always, we’d love to hear from you about your insights, challenges, and successes around leading (self and others) through transitions.