Leadership and the Art of Struggle

About the Author

Steven Snyder is the founder of the Snyder Leadership Group, a consulting firm dedicated to cultivating inspired leadership. Snyder was an early leader at Microsoft and the winner of the first-ever World Technology Award for Commerce. His experiences working with Bill Gates during Microsoft's formative years and his role as a CEO and executive coach provide him with a unique perspective on leadership and struggle.

Main Idea

Leadership often involves struggle, yet there is a strong societal taboo against discussing these difficulties openly. In Leadership and the Art of Struggle, Steven Snyder argues that adversity is what unlocks a leader's greatest potential. Using real-life stories and extensive research, Snyder provides strategies for embracing struggle as a pathway to personal and organizational growth. By mastering the art of struggle, leaders can better navigate challenges and focus on what truly matters.

Table of Contents

• Part 1: Becoming Grounded
  • Struggle is Not a Four-Letter Word
  • Adaptive Energy
• Part 2: Exploring New Pathways
  • Navigate Tensions
  • Illuminate Blind Spots
  • Transcend Conflict
• Part 3: Deepening Adaptive Energy
  • Peer into the Future
  • Savor the Marathon

Struggle is Not a Four-Letter Word

Many leaders view struggle as a negative experience and a sign of weakness. This mindset makes it difficult to deal with challenges effectively. Steven Snyder emphasizes that struggle is a natural part of leadership and should be seen as an opportunity for growth. He writes,

"Instead of denying struggle, or feeling some degree of shame, savvy leaders embrace struggle as an opportunity for growth and learning, as an art to be mastered." - Steven Snyder

Struggle is defined by three fundamental conditions: change, tensions, and being out of balance. Change triggers struggle, tensions arise from change, and these factors throw a leader off balance. Understanding these elements helps leaders navigate their challenges more effectively.

Adaptive Energy

Adaptive energy is the force that helps leaders align their actions with both external success criteria and their inner values. It involves assessing feedback from multiple sources and incorporating new learning into future actions. Leaders with adaptive energy can channel negative emotions into creativity and goal-oriented pursuits. Snyder explains,