Discussion Questions:
1. How do you interpret Steve Cuss’s use of the term “infecting” when discussing leadership anxiety and differentiation?
2. Can you recall an instance when you felt your anxiety was “contagious” within your team or organization? How did it impact the group dynamics?
3. Tod Bolsinger mentioned that anxiety can make people “stupid” and “rigid”. Can you provide examples from your own experiences where anxiety affected decision-making or flexibility in a group?
4. Differentiation involves maintaining a solid sense of self while staying connected to others. How can leaders cultivate this balance in high-stress or anxiety-inducing situations?
5. How does family systems theory apply to leadership and management of teams in a spiritual context?
6. Why is self-awareness critical in leadership, particularly when dealing with personal crises that could affect professional responsibilities?
7. Tod Bolsinger offers that differentiated people help others with their problems without taking them on as their own. How can leaders practice this approach without appearing detached or uncaring?
8. Reflect on the idea that differentiation allows a person to be in a problem with other people without “getting infected by the anxiety.” How can this be achieved in practice?
9. Discuss how a lack of differentiation could potentially lead to toxicity and dysfunction within an organization or community. Have you witnessed such scenarios?
10. How might spiritual leaders help their congregants or community members develop differentiation to better cope with systemic anxieties?
