Leadership and the Art of Struggle

5Regain Balance

It is the obvious which is so difficult to see most ofthe time. People say ‘It’s as plain as the nose on yourface.’ But how much of the nose on your face can yousee, unless someone holds a mirror up to you?

—Isaac Asimov, I, Robot

JOE DOWLING’S TURBULENT TENURE AT IRELAND’S ABBEY THEATRE is an excellent case study in how struggle can throw a leader off balance. The more that Dowling’s actions ratcheted up tensions, the further off balance he became and the more likely he was to act in ways that increased those tensions. Dowling’s situation was notable because, while he found himself at odds with the board of directors, at least he and the board were sitting at the same table, albeit uncomfortably.

Many leaders do not have the ...