As a cross-cultural practitioner, I've talked about AND a lot. It's amazing how that one word can open us up to possibilities that OR never could.
Here's a question I get often: "Should I adapt to other cultures OR be my authentic self with them?"
Replace the OR with AND.
"I can adapt to other cultures AND be my authentic self." How? By allowing the openness of a learner's mindset. Our authentic selves are not static, nor should they be. We can maintain a strong set of values AND we can change and grow over time.
As many of you know, I am a self-proclaimed space geek. Watching the recent Artemis 2 mission around the moon thrilled me to no end. And not just because we left Earth orbit, but because of what happened next.
If you watched any of the footage, you saw incredible leadership role-modeling. The Artemis 2 crew were highly technical, extremely courageous, physically strong, disciplined, and mentally resilient. AND they cried together, hugged each other, named a moon crater after the commander's late wife, said “I love you” to each other, and named their friendship as the most important part of the mission.
Millions around the world were watching, and the mission sparked inspiration and emotion that neither NASA nor the crew expected. We now call this Moon Joy.
Today, I see leaders sorted into one of two archetypes: the strong, no-nonsense leader OR the empathetic, supportive one.
Artemis 2 proved that leaders can be both.
In fact, I would argue that the two sides support each other. The crew could not have experienced such love without a solid foundation of competence, expertise, and trust. And the camaraderie and love they had for one another allowed them to successfully spend ten days in a tiny cabin aboard a ship that had never flown in space.
I encourage all leaders to resist the trap of OR. There are many ways to be a successful captain of your ship. Cultures around the world prove that every day.
Instead, use the power of AND to open yourself to what your leadership could be, and how you can inspire others to do great work.
If you want to lead more boldly and build high-performing global teams, let's talk. I help organizations connect across difference, communicate with impact, and lead with purpose.
Send me a message or click the link below to schedule a call. https://calendly.com/vickihudson/30-minute-meeting-t3p
(Photo: NASA)