Today I asked my client if he could remember the “Stockdale paradox” from Jim Collins book, Good to Great. He remembered the name; not the content. I reminded him.
The Stockdale paradox was named after Admiral Jim Stockdale who was the highest ranking prisoner during Vietnam. He was tortured repeatedly by his captors. He never broke. He did, however, continue to lead. He made it out alive and when asked how he survived, he replied, something like he never lost hope that he would survive and, at the same time, he faced, head on, the brutal facts of his reality. There’s the paradox, I reminded my client, I want you to face.
Face the brutal facts of your reality and do NOT lose hope. Leaders are believers. Leaders face the brutal facts and, somehow, remain hopeful. Leaders don’t believe in sunshine soildering, nor do they believe in spreading sunshine and cheer when clouds and stormy weathers on the horizon. Leaders tell their team the brutal facts and generate hope by simply going to the front, especially when times are toughest, and saying “follow me.”
Faux leaders blow bullshit up skirts all while slowly sliding out of sight. Faux leaders lose hope and learn, instead, how much easier it is blame circumstances and others for their inaction. Psychologists see this so often they’ve coined a label; learned helplessness. This is not the one you want. Leaders understand they cannot lead without some kinda hope. I told my client the eyes tell the truth, the mouth, not so much.
When times get tough, what are your eyes telling your team? What do you believe about the current adversity coming your way? Have you taken the time to ponder life’s big questions before circumstances demand an answer? Do you know who you are? Do you know where you’re going? Do you know what you STAND for?
Do NOT wait until circumstances simply reveal your answers. Build your CORE today. Hope combined with the brutal facts of your reality will lead to productive action that is almost reflexive under the sternest of tests. This kinda “knee jerk” is the one you want.
Stockdale didn’t break under the pressure because he had been building in advance of his circumstance. The same is true for you. Choose this REAL, HARD, WORK within. Choose to begin this building project, today. Most humans delay, deny, and even delegate this building project, hoping for slower times ahead. Talk about misplaced kinda hope…
Come on, we’ve got some building to do…
BUILT TO LEAD 