Hello!  We are really happy you’ve come by for a chat.  Let’s Tango!

Several folks have asked me “Why ‘Tango’ Leadership?”

Years ago, when I lived in Philadelphia, my partner and I frequently had dinner at a jazz club down the street from my office. Wednesday evenings were our favorite because they featured Latin jazz night! There were instructors who conducted free informal dance lessons in salsa, merengue, rumba, samba, and tango. We’d attend class, grab dinner, and then dance into the night to live music.

Among the many things I learned during those evenings is that Argentine tango is quite unique.  The leadership of the dance often switches between partners; there is a lot of proposal – counterproposal when tango is improvised (rather than designed for ballroom competition). When grounded in a connected relationship, dancing the tango feels is as if there is no leader and no follower, or both lead and both follow. The dance organically happens in the moment.  When danced in that connected, trusting relationship, it is magical and powerful.  Experiencing the tango in this way made an impression.

Tango as a metaphor for leadership

While teaching leadership classes or speaking at events, I started using tango as a metaphor for leadership skills – collaboration, partnership, equality and inclusion to drive innovation. Tango teaches us that leadership can be fluid, dynamic, and deeply connected, much like the dance itself. Since then, I have titled various workshops or speeches with tango in the name. After so many years, what other name would suit my business?

Embracing Tango Leadership

Tango leadership emphasizes:

 Collaboration: Just as in tango, leadership involves a seamless exchange of ideas and roles.

 Partnership: Both partners contribute equally to the dance, symbolizing mutual respect and cooperation in leadership.

 Equality and Inclusion: In tango, every move is a conversation. Similarly, inclusive leadership values every team member’s input, fostering a culture of equality and belonging.

 Innovation: The improvised nature of tango encourages creativity and adaptability, key traits for innovative leadership.

If you want to know more, check out this TEDxTalk by Sue Cox, who demonstrates and speaks beautifully about her view of what tango can teach us about leadership.

Thanks for stopping by.  We hope you found at least one little nugget you are taking away with you.  What will you do to bring it into full living color?

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