From Tension to Transformation - by Janet M Harvey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

2024 Axiom Award Silver Medalist in Independent Thought Leadership

How do we embrace being generative to sustain excellence in the workplace?

The modern working world doesn't leave much time for reflection. Leaders in particular are encouraged to speed ahead, make quick decisions, and seek swift solutions to any problem that may arise. However, the full-speed-ahead approach can backfire. By taking time to pause and reflect, it's possible to notice new pathways and develop innovative solutions that allow for impactful results.

Executive coach Janet M. Harvey has worked with leaders and teams around the world to explore the common tensions that arise in the workplace. Her conclusion? Tension in the workplace is inevitable. It's how you navigate it that determines whether you will sustain excellence-or flame out.

In this book, Janet explores the vehicle of generative change as one way to navigate tension in the workplace. Using real-life case studies and personal anecdotes, she compiles decades of her work as a coach to introduce readers to the vehicle of generative change. Each chapter includes activities and reflection exercises, making this an actionable guide that anyone can use to explore the value of generative change for themselves.

From the Back Cover

Tension in the workplace is inevitable. How can successful leaders navigate it?
Executive coach Janet M. Harvey explores how generative change can help leaders leverage tension to sustain excellence.

Problems in the workplace are becoming increasingly thorny. Too often, leaders rush to solve conflicts, seeking quick solutions to alleviate tension--often at the expense of their own and others' sovereignty and wholeness. But what if the answer to the problems that arise could be found in the tension? In From Tension to Transformation: A Leader's Guide to Generative Change, Janet M. Harvey explores the ways in which pausing, reflecting, and exploring the possibilities of our own internal tensions can illuminate new solutions to persistent problems.

Whether you're in a leadership role or simply curious about how to lead yourself well--which is where all great leadership starts--the vehicle for generative change can help you. Janet draws on nearly thirty years of experience working with executives, leaders, and teams, presenting a path to positive decision-making that any person can benefit from. You'll learn how to notice tension as it arises, how to pause and consider that tension, and--most importantly--how to reflect on that tension's significance in a way that reaps results. A professional coach, Janet guides you through the process of generative change to help you discover your authentic self--and learn how to lead from it in a way that inspires excellence.

Review Quotes

"In From Tension to Transformation, Janet M. Harvey serves as your guide to lead generative change. Amidst all of the chaos, leaders who rely on empowering reflection-available through the generative vehicle for change that this book offers-can look ahead and see a year filled with ongoing learning, improved collaboration, and better results."

-Mark Thompson, Chairman, ChiefExecutiveAlliance.com

"Pragmatic, provocative, fully actionable, and so urgently needed in today's VUCA world. In From Tension to Transformation: A Leader's Guide to Generative Change, Janet Harvey taps into, and offers, a thoroughly researched and practical guide for embracing and managing the ever-present and cascading tensions confronting today's leaders. Whether a senior, experienced leader, an emerging leader, or a leader in mid-stride, From Tension to Transformation is a must-read. If you are honest with yourself, you will see painfully clear, or amusingly faint, glimmers of yourself in every chapter. Thankfully, I see myself in all three. Do not miss this transformative and generative read."

-Michael D. Rochelle, PCC, CMC, LTG (USA, retired)

"Extraordinary leaders actively pursue lifelong learning, introspection, and increasing insight. From Tension to Transformation brims with authentic and practical wisdom-consider it an essential companion on the leadership journey."

-Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, President and CEO, SSM Health

"In this increasingly fast-changing world leaders need to build trust more than ever by being trustworthy. This in turn requires congruence of thoughts, feelings, and actions. Janet's new book shows a roadmap to accomplish this. A must-read for leaders navigating unprecedented change."

-Niren Chaudhary, Chairman of the Board, Panera Brands

"Janet Harvey shares with us the opportunity for guided personal reflection with From Tension to Transformation: A Leader's Guide to Generative Change. She asks us to tap and reclaim our sovereignty to bring our best to all aspects of our lives and to pause (maybe even slow down!) to be with tension, judgment, and fear so we can grow and just 'be' with more intention. This is not a book to be read. Rather, it is a journey guide to being and bringing all of you to life-personal and professional. Enjoy the work!"

-Shannon Connor Phillips, MD, Chief Health Officer, Joyous

"Janet Harvey is an unignorable voice in the social impact leadership space and with From Tension to Transformation, she has raised the bar again. She destroys antiquated thinking with aplomb and forces the reader to rethink their beliefs about effective leadership, the pitfalls of speed, and the power of generative change. This book should be required reading in all MBA & executive leadership programs worldwide."

-Alok Appadurai, Founder and CEO, Uplift Millions

"If, like me, you have spent most of your working life as a sales leader charging at a moving target we call business growth and rarely having time to pause and reflect, then From Tension to Transformation: A Leader's Guide to Generative Change by Janet M. Harvey is the book for you. Reading and reflecting on the lessons shared by a master coach will help you to sit with the fear of inactivity that can lead us to make rash judgments before thoroughly considering all the implications. Managed properly, tension can be healthy, confrontation can be constructive, and fear can be harnessed-this ground-breaking work shows you how."

-Kevin Thiele, Founder and CEO, Sales Code