Leadership Notes -- Thoughts on Leading People and Making a Difference in Organizations
Word count this issue: 376
Estimated reading time: 2:30 minutes
“It is comforting to remember that perseverance is the story of humankind. We all come from ancestors who persevered. We wouldn’t be here without them. It's our turn now.”
Margaret Wheatley
Good morning from a sunny and warm Gibsons BC. My forthcoming book, 5 Thrives for the Digital Revolution explores the implications for emerging leaders as the world changes. A vital ‘thrive’, a vital competency, my research points to is increasing our ability to persevere.
A few years ago my mother had a fall. Thankfully, she was in hospital, and so help was very close at hand. However, she did fall flat on her face, and had broken her cheekbone, poor dear. What was amazing though, was the story we heard from the nurse who came to her aid. Mum was on her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth after dinner. The nurse found her on the floor, blood coming from her nose and mouth, trying to pull herself up on her walker, toothpaste and toothbrush still in hand, still trying to get to the bathroom to brush her teeth!
Those who know me and my siblings will immediately recognize our stubborn side. I believe stubbornness to be simply the shadow side of perseverance. And when held in the light, this stubbornness means that we will stand our ground when called, we will fight for an ideal or a good we believe in, and we will stand by our friends. Living and working in the midst the Digital (R)evolution, requires perseverance. There is a great deal of fear in the world, and we need to persevere against the fear, persevere against the troubles, persevere against the dangers. We must persevere with health and strength, and persevere with a soulful confidence. And perhaps most importantly, we must persevere against the petty, the sharp and the short within ourselves.
Every time I feel like giving up, I recall the image of my then 84 year old mother, hurt and frustrated, pulling herself up, and staying focused on the work at hand.
What is the work in your life that requires your perseverance?