5. Mastering Titanic Challenges

In this chapter, leaders learn how to recognize and manage the unspoken feelings and beliefs in the leadership team. It is not the visible part of the iceberg that threatens most leadership teams; it is the part hidden from view, which represent the titanic challenges. To play at their best, executive teams must manage two realities, represented by the iceberg. The material reality, that is visible part of the iceberg above the water; and the non-material reality, the aspects that are not seen, not written about and seldom talked about. Business leaders understand the material reality, the world of hard facts: sales forecasts, strategy, the balance sheet, product launches, and regulatory guidelines. At the end of the month, or reporting period, you can look and determine whether you have been successful or not. In the non-material reality trust, respect, openness, and power play out in the leadership team. Sacred Cows, white elephants, hidden agendas and emotional viruses influence the levels of trust, collaboration and ultimately, results. Through the insights and tools in this chapter, leaders learn how to manage both the material and non-material leadership realities.