Adaptive Leadership: The Heifetz Collection (3 Items)

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CHAPTER 8

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Make Interpretations

E

FFECTIVE VISIONS HAVE accuracy and not just imagination

and appeal. Providing thoughtful, accurate interpretations that

get at the essence of the complex reality you observe in your organiza-

tion is enormously helpful to people. An incisive statement of the key

issues that underlie a messy, complexified discussion orients people

and helps focus attention productively. Although people may balk at

your interpretation, having one on the table to discuss, revise, and

amend is profoundly useful. But the interpretation also has to capture

key realities. Dreams and fantasies are essential sources of new ideas

and hope, but adaptive solutions have to capture and build from today’s

realities toward new possibilities.

Often the ...