Harvard psychology of leadership 1508 02 janus

Psychology 1508: Janusian Thinking “The goal in leadership development, it is important to remember, is to develop well-rounded leaders, ones with the skills and personal attributes needed to adapt, act with flexibility, and combine what appear to be opposites: toughness and compassion, self-confidence and humility, strong individuals and good team players.” Russ Moxley, Center for Creative Leadership Janusian Thinking “conceiving two or more opposite or antithetical ideas, images or concepts simultaneously.” Robert Rothenberg “We see everything as this or that, plus or minus, on or off, black or white; and we fragment reality into an endless series of either-ors In a phrase, we think the world apart.” Parker Palmer “Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; Thinking the World Together “Paradoxical thinking requires that we embrace a view of the world in which opposites are joined, so that we can see the world clearly and see it whole The result is a world more complex and confusing than the one made simple by either-or thought—but that simplicity is merely the dullness of death When we think together, we reclaim the life force in the world, in our students, Janusian Leadership “Ben Franklin was a paradox He fiercely believed in the power of the individual, but he was a relentless advocate for acting on behalf of the community He believed in competition, but he never hesitated to cooperate with competitors when it was in his interest He could be the most partisan of politicians—and the most accomodating of diplomats.” Jack Uldrich Myth : You can’t have your cake and eat it too Reality : Rather than succumbing to the “tyranny of the OR” they embrace the “genius of the AND.” Progress through Synthesis • • • • Person OR Situation? Democratic OR Authoritarian? Dogmatism OR Relativism? Tough OR Nice? Person OR Situation? “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” Thomas Carlyle “Man lives consciously for himself, but is an unconscious instrument in the attainment of historic, universal, aims of humanity A deed done is irrevocable, and its result coinciding in time with the actions of millions of other men assumes an historic significance The higher a man stands on the social ladder, the more people he is connected with and “The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races.” “[Relativism is a] theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics, that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.” American Heritage Dictionary “Dogmatism is a condition of mind in which essential practical concepts are perceived with such clarity that only one possible interpretation of reality exists In such a case, all evidence suggesting contrary interpretations—and therefore alternate courses of Moral Relativism “Almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative.” Allan Bloom Relativist • A commitment to open-mindedness and flexibility • Lacks conviction and certainty for sustained action Dogmatist • Possesses conviction and certainty • Lacks openness and flexibility Moral Relativism at Harvard (Ben-Shahar & Grant, 2003) Question 1: Is any culture morally superior to another culture? Question 2: Is a culture that supports gender equality morally superior to a culture that oppresses women? • Question 1, first: • Question after 2: 78% say ‘No’ 79% say ‘Yes’ (Pearson Chi-Square=10.04; p< 002) Janus, help!!! • The dangers of dogmatism • The dangers of relativism “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to nothing.” Edmund Burke “The best lack all convictions, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.” W.B Yeats • Regaining a strong belief in a cause Janusian Synthesis “If we regard truth as something handed down from authorities on high, the classroom will look like a dictatorship If we regard truth as a fiction determined by personal whim, the classroom will look like anarchy If we regard truth as emerging from a complex process of mutual inquiry, the classroom will look like a resourceful and interdependent community.” Parker Palmer Tough OR Nice? Beautiful Enemy (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841) “He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill Our antagonist is our helper.” Edmund Burke “Nothing will sink a leader faster than surrounding him- or herself with yes-men and women Even when principled nay-sayers are wrong, they force leaders to re-evaluate their positions and to poke and prod their assumptions for weaknesses Good Beautiful Enemy (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841) “McKinsey had a culture that fostered rigorous debate over the right answer without that debate resulting in personal criticism.” Lou Gerstner “The real heroism of leadership involves having the courage to face reality—and helping the people around you to face reality.” Ron Heifetz Espoused Versus In-Use “Espoused theories of action are those that people report as a basis for actions Theories-inuse are the theories of action inferred from how people actually behave.” Chris Argyris “Most individuals studied seem to be able to detect the discrepancies between their espoused theories and theories-in-use of others, but were not able to detect similar discrepancies in The Challenge of Challenging “It takes one kind of courage to face a duelist, but it’s nothing like the courage it takes to tell a friend, No.” Harry Truman “CEO disease: the information vacuum around a leader created when people withhold important (and usually unpleasant) information.” The Challenge of Being Challenged “We say we want the truth, what we mean is that we want to be correct.” Mihnea Moldoveanu “Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving that there is no need to so, almost everybody gets busy on the proof.” John Kenneth Galbraith • Rationalizing over rationality “The leader needs a circle of associates who are willing to be both supportive and critical Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical lovers Leaders need reassurance, but just as important they need advisors who tell them the truth, gently but candidly.” John Gardner Healthy Synthesis • • • • Person AND Situation Democratic AND Authoritarian Dogmatism AND Relativism Tough AND Nice ... ‘Yes’ (Pearson Chi-Square=10.04; p< 002) Janus, help!!! • The dangers of dogmatism • The dangers of relativism “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to nothing.” Edmund... history of the world is but the biography of great men.” Thomas Carlyle “Man lives consciously for himself, but is an unconscious instrument in the attainment of historic, universal, aims of humanity... by its exceptional men The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the