The Power of Healthy Tension: Overcome Chronic Issues and Conflicting Values

Brief read, with a lot of value. The author quickly identifies healthy tension and provides a solution and way to approach difficult situations more appropriately. Lot of wisdom to help resolve recurring problems and see them in a new way.

This is everything you'd want in a book of this kind. It is short, readable, clear, and personable. It is full of personal anecdotes that transcend the organizational examples typical of leadership books. (Many of his stories are drawn from family life and his job as the director of a homeless shelter.) It is easy to work through the material and immediately demonstrates its relevance to nearly any challenging situation, especially where people have to work together.In brief, Arnold challenges his readers to re-examine the "problems" that they're trying to solve, suggesting that some of them may instead be tensions to manage in a healthy way. He first lays out the theoretical foundation for his proposition: that a healthy tension is one where there are two polar opposite values, which often live in tension with each other, that must be preserved to live out the higher purpose. (One of his examples: the higher purpose of "love" consists of BOTH unconditional acceptance AND accountability.) He then lays out the four steps to managing the tension: 1) Identify your crux tension, 2) Mind your bias, 3) Learn the language, and 4) Make informed decisions. There are helpful discussion/follow up questions throughout to encourage application.I'd recommend this to anyone who is confronted with challenges and obstacles in life, i.e. everyone.

I always maintained an intuition that certain "problems" (what I used to call them) just were not going to go away. Tim's book has helped transform my intuition into real strategy and understanding of how to manage ongoing tensions in my life. The anecdotes and stories were beautifully crafted and helped make key points from the book stick with me. I can say with all honesty that the book has changed the way I think. It generated a mindset shift that will stick with me. I'm grateful he produced this book and have already recommended it to a former colleague.

The concepts described in this book have become the single most important tool in the "management toolkit" at our company. Tim has done a great job at explaining why all great tensions in life (ie. control and empowerment, confidence and humility) are not "either or" but "both and." If you're looking for words to explain the power of that elusive "third way" - you'll find them in this book.

I just finished the Power of Healthy Tension and I want everyone in my life to read it! Tim does a masterful job of bringing the concepts to life with meaningful and powerful stories. As a consultant, as a parent, as a person...this book will help me to navigate life's polarities with more skill and compassion.

This book describes the difference between "problems" - that can be solved, and "polarities" - that need to be managed (think change and stability, or speed and quality). The book provides a guide to identifying and managing key tensions as well as uncovering one's own biases. I've found this book really useful in a work setting, but also in terms of personal development and even home life (ask my teenagers about the freedom and responsibility polarity and you'll get an eye roll for sure!)Lot's of great examples in the book and I've been lucky enough to have experienced several workshops given by the author. Definitely to be recommended if you're a leader looking to bring a new perspective to a team.

The ultimate book!! Straight to the point, not repetitive. Examples are true-to-life and relatable. The author also does speaking engagements and I was able to hear him at the OASBO conference in May 2019. If you're looking for motivation and inspiration, book the speaker and buy the book! :)