A favored television program, therapeutic travel, and a dance that necessitates collaboration

Uche Amaechi serves as the chair of the Leading Change Foundations and is a lecturer on leadership at the Graduate School of Education.

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“Severance” presents an excellent narrative and outstanding storytelling, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Numerous profound discussions regarding organizations and leadership can emerge from it: It delves into the concept of multiple selves, and which versions may surface in varying environments. It poses the question: Why might a corporation desire its employees to be severed? Is it for risk management? Is it for control? Is it for unwavering loyalty to the mission?

I have always commuted by bike, but it was only during COVID that I began cycling for enjoyment. I advocate for biking because it provides emotional and mental advantages, in addition to physical ones. Mentally, biking allows me time to process my thoughts and unravel whatever is on my mind. Emotionally, it’s a fantastic way to alleviate stress I didn’t realize I had; it’s incredibly therapeutic. Additionally, it’s an excellent method to explore your neighborhood: you become more attuned to your surroundings.

In leadership discussions, we frequently emphasize the significance of achieving work-life harmony. One cannot be an effective leader without prioritizing self-care. Biking offers solitude to concentrate, clear your thoughts, and regain your balance, enabling you to be a more effective leader and team participant.

Within my professional realm, we often encourage leaders to observe from the balcony rather than getting lost on the dance floor: On the dance floor, you are engulfed in the system, but from the balcony, you have distanced yourself enabling more strategic decisions for the system’s benefit. This is essential for robust, compassionate leadership. However, there is significant merit to being present on the dance floor.

I practice — and teach — Argentine tango. It involves you, your partner, and the music. The leader must be attuned to how their partner responds to their guidance and must adapt in real-time. The follower needs to interpret the leader’s intentions. In essence, the leader must also understand how to follow, and the follower must recognize how to lead. Both individuals must be very observant of one another, as well as aware of the overall dance floor: What are the other couples doing? It’s personal, it involves interpersonal dynamics, and requires systems-thinking.

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— As shared with Sy Boles/Harvard Staff Writer