Project Description
Executive Conflict: Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton
What happens when two or more powerful executives or work groups find themselves in direct conflict during a critical change initiative? How can such conflict serve the organization? How might it limit or damage it? This compelling leadership theater module examines the nuances of defensive positioning and resistance, collaboration and consensus, by recreating a 1789 meeting between the U.S. State Department, led by Thomas Jefferson, and the Treasury Department, led by Alexander Hamilton. Executive and high-potential students are forced to take sides and participate in a high-level, high-stress debate of both strategy and process. An extraordinary exercise in change management, inclusiveness, adaptability, negotiation, persuasion, trust, and the manipulation of power.
Executive Conflict: Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton
What happens when two or more powerful executives or work groups find themselves in direct conflict during a critical change initiative? How can such conflict serve the organization? How might it limit or damage it? This compelling leadership theater module examines the nuances of defensive positioning and resistance, collaboration and consensus, by recreating a 1789 meeting between the U.S. State Department, led by Thomas Jefferson, and the Treasury Department, led by Alexander Hamilton. Executive and high-potential students are forced to take sides and participate in a high-level, high-stress debate of both strategy and process. An extraordinary exercise in change management, inclusiveness, adaptability, negotiation, persuasion, trust, and the manipulation of power.
This stunning leadership theater event will draw your executive students into a winner-take-all battle between Thomas Jefferson’s State Department and Alexander Hamilton’s Treasury. Participants portray such powerful influencers as Benjamin Franklin, Cesar Rodney, Olivia Woolcott, and Abigail Adams.
Key Concepts: Leading self and others through massive change, leading work groups through uncertainty and fear, defensive behaviors, proactive behaviors, embracing opposing philosophies.
Anchored Learning: Responsive vs. reactive states, understanding defensive positioning, transformational leadership, collaboration, win-win scenarios, avoiding the zero-sum game.
Total time needed for presentation and debrief: 2 1/2 – 3 hours.
This stunning leadership theater event will draw your executive students into a winner-take-all battle between Thomas Jefferson’s State Department and Alexander Hamilton’s Treasury. Participants portray such powerful influencers as Benjamin Franklin, Cesar Rodney, Olivia Woolcott, and Abigail Adams.
Key Concepts: Leading self and others through massive change, leading work groups through uncertainty and fear, defensive behaviors, proactive behaviors, embracing opposing philosophies.
Anchored Learning: Responsive vs. reactive states, understanding defensive positioning, transformational leadership, collaboration, win-win scenarios, avoiding the zero-sum game.
Total time needed for presentation and debrief: 2 1/2 – 3 hours.