The word tension comes from the Latin word tendere, which means âto stretch.â Itâs not a bad thing to be stretched in our careers, our parenting, our ministries, or our leadership. Without tension, we become stagnant and stop growing. In fact, we might even say that tension is both inevitable and, in many cases, desirable in life and leadership.
In Harnessing the Power of Tension: Stretched but Not Broken, international leadership consultant Sam Chand examines tension as it arises in and between the arenas of business, church, and family. The presence of tension isnât a flaw in you or a threat from others. Itâs not a problem to solve, but a strain to be used. When you develop this perspective and you encounter tension, youâll be less confused and feel less guilty because you understand that tension isnât the result of your error or flaw. Youâll experience less pressure to figure everything out and less compulsion to resolve it quickly and completely.
When we accept tension as a reality of life, we gain confidence and mental clarity when we encounter it. Our focus isnât on getting rid of tension, but using it to create something better than before. We donât walk on eggshells, afraid to say the wrong thing. We learn when to speak up, when to ask questions, when to listen, and when to let things go. As we relax in the middle of tension, we see people and situations more clearly, and we invite our families and teams into the process of creatively using tension in life and leadership.