Oleh Mohamad Cholid, Certified Executive and Leadership Coach
Great leaders are brave enough to do the tango with their vulnerabilities, against all odds. How about the new president?
Set in an elegant restaurant in New York, with a shiny dance floor and uplifting music. Frank Slade, a blind, retired Army Ranger Lieutenant Colonel, is being guided by Charlie Simms towards a beautiful woman sitting alone, waiting for her partner. Her name is Donna.
Having received her permission to sit down with her and introduce themselves to each other, Frank asks Donna to learn the tango with him.
“I think I’d be a little afraid’” says Donna, who, deep down, wants to know how to tango, a dance with endless possibilities — where one shares every moment and every bit of their trust with a partner.
“Afraid of what?” asks Frank.
“Afraid of making a mistake,” Donna answers.
“No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. It’s simple. That’s what makes the tango so great,” Frank replies.
And so, they do the tango with caution, instead of the usual passion. Nevertheless, it is still enough to transform the moment. That was the scene from the movie Scent of a Woman.
Other than having a tough mentality, a leader should also be skilled at tango. Because as Frank Slade (portrayed by Al Pacino) says, there are no mistakes in the tango. And that is what makes the tango so great.
In another story, tango can be interpreted as taking the lead, being dynamic, and taking care of one’s partner with vulnerability and while minding each other’s limitations. Leadership, in many cases, is a bit like the tango – there is no right or wrong, only dynamic engagement.
As long as a leader has strong integrity, enough humility to own up to their mistakes, and the ability to respect the stakeholders as their “dance partners”, he would have the confidence to remain firm while making decisions or taking leadership steps.
Sometimes, the path that he pursues with the stakeholders to achieve success can be tenuous. But as a leader, he still has to make the decisions.
The courage of you and other executives is highly determined by your humility and open-mindedness in facing new challenges, just like doing the tango.
True leadership requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone and taking responsibility.
Alibis, like blame (towards other parties, superiors, subordinates, or business partners), excuses, and denials, often used to avoid responsibilities, including procrastination — will never change the facts of business or life.