We do NOT have an abundance of adversity in America. We think we do. We suffer from a lack of perspective. Study history and you will see real adversity. Study the native American history and see their adversity. Study the early English settlers and see their adversity. Study any group of people, in any time period, on any part of this planet, and the one thing you will see is their adversity. All people face adversity, if they live long enough.
Here’s what I see an abundance of in America, in myself, and in my clients. I see an abundance of anxiety. It’s as if the comfort, convenience, and consume culture threw a massive spoke and is struggling to remain upright as it fights to keep the rubber on the road. Here’s the problem. The leader is anxious and reactionary. The team, only more so. Anxious leaders produce hyper anxious teams that crave the quick fix. Here’s what we actually need in abundance. We need one or two leaders to emerge and build capacity alongside whatever challenge they’re in.
Stress, remember, is neutral. Stress causes growth. Your job is to effectively manage yours. Too much challenge and too little capacity = distressed. Too little challenge combined with too much capacity = boredom. High performers, remember, live in the tension. They push themselves outside their comfort zone, into the challenge zone, and right up against the panic zone. We have an abundance of leaders who’ve lived a bit too long in the comfort zone. The time to build is not when you’re overwhelmed and headed to hyper-stress. Build now. Moving on…
We need someone to simply, STAND and model the way out of their mess. The only leaders that will stand in adversity are the ones that have built their S.CORE. There is no substitute for a strong CORE, your S.CORE.
Here’s a quick way to know if your CORE is a S.CORE.
Are you still standing, leading from the front, sticking to your disciplines, and becoming a less anxious presence as you weather the storm? Or are you looking for a quick fix, telling everybody to “go deep,” losing your patience with your performers, and becoming a little more nervous about the time it takes to turn this thing? There’s your answer. You don’t really need a 360 to tell you. You simply need to be honest with yourself. God, is that so much harder.
In 2014, if you want to really score, get busy building your S.CORE. Build Capacity and challenge those around you to act in the face of real fear. Challenge yourself to STAND. Challenge your team to perform. Stick to your disciplines and, in fact, double down on the effort. You and your team need more discipline.
AND, celebrate more small but significant milestones you pass along the way. Take the time to celebrate. As you celebrate together with your team, remind them where we’re going, why it’s worth the effort, and simply thank them from your heart.
Build capacity. Challenge and celebrate. Leaders always have the time for all three…
Do you?
BUILT TO LEAD 