Searching for Solutions
As a former mayor of a mid-size city in Canada, I had a first hand account of the rise in social issues facing communities across North America. Searching for Solutions is about examining issues such as the housing crisis, homelessness, mental health, addictions and food insecurity to find disruptive solutions that are having a real impact. Each episode looks at an issue and features a guest that guides us through a problem to a solution. A great resource for people in communities looking how to make a difference at a time when many people are feeling helpless.
Searching for Solutions
How to deal with tensions in your life and in community with Tim Arnold
One of the most foundational books that I read during my time as Mayor of St. Catharines was written by Tim Arnold called The Power of Healthy Tension. It was a powerful book that gave me the tools to understand that tensions in relationships - both personal and at work - are not all bad and in fact we live with tension every day. It's how we manage the tensions that makes the difference.
Tim followed up The Power of Healthy with Lead with And, and it was another game changer for me leading during a very turbulent time in our community. Lead with And demonstrated the power of listening and using "and" instead of words like "but" to get to a better place of understanding and consensus.
Tim Arnold has spent over two decades helping leaders manage complexity, increase resilience, and deliver results, with clients that include The United Nations, Royal Bank of Canada, Allstate Insurance, Compassion International, Toyota, and Siemens. After running both a for-profit business and a homeless shelter, he leverages his real-world experience to help organizations pursue both profit and purpose.
On this episode, Time and I explore the concepts of healthy tensions and leading with and as ways to better address the societal challenges facing communities.