The Best Leaders Encourage "Spacious Thinking"
Briefly

Soren, tasked with delivering cost savings and anticipating layoffs, chose to engage his department in a meeting focused on their purpose and sustainability. This initiative aimed to foster a sense of collaboration and creativity within the team, moving beyond traditional top-down budget cuts. By opening this conversation, Soren sought to align the department towards common goals and explore innovative approaches for financial stability, thereby mitigating the impact of potential layoffs and encouraging team responsibility.
Instead of issuing immediate budget cuts to his team, Soren opted for a more strategic approach by convening a meeting to explore the department's overall purpose and sustainability.
Soren recognized the potential for creativity and collaboration within his department, prompting a discussion that could lead to innovative cost-saving measures, rather than immediate layoffs.
By prioritizing a conversation about the department's direction, Soren hoped to cultivate a culture of shared responsibility which could ultimately align the team towards common goals and financial sustainability.
His decision to engage the team in reflecting on their mission and vision demonstrated a shift from top-down management to a more inclusive leadership strategy.
Read at Harvard Business Review
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