MOVING FORWARD

Taking hits and getting back up is a sign of inner strength. Whether it’s on a personal or professional level, developing this ability leads to more success and happiness.

A leader who does not posses this trait is miscast. People look to their leaders for strength to help them persevere. If co-workers sense an unwillingness or inability of their leader to fight back when dealt a series of blows they lose respect and their bearings. Their morale sinks as they begin to question the viability of the leader and maybe even the organization.

All of us have been knocked down. The punches can be from out of the blue, anticipated but unavoidable, or they may even be self-imposed errors in judgment. Regardless of the source, their intensity and frequency can sometimes prove debilitating. One of life’s greatest challenges is overcoming these body blows. Part of this process is to learn from the experience and decide — yes, it’s a matter of the will — to move forward.

Wallowing in self-pity never solves anything, and for a leader it is absolutely not an option. All eyes are on the leader and in times of crisis everyone is looking for any sign of weakness. The leader must dig deep and pull the team together by focusing on what’s ahead not what’s behind. Pointing fingers, rehashing or excusing the past adds no value. In fact, it puts the team further behind. Refocusing and recommitting to the future is the right course of action. A skillful leader adroitly contains the losses and positions the organization for tomorrow’s success. Yesterday’s decisions determine today’s results. Tomorrow’s successes depend on the actions we take today.

The world doesn’t stop for our problems, in fact it is completely indifferent to their extent and severity. It keeps moving forward with or without us. Sometimes the issues we confront force us to play catch up but catch up we must. Leaders who take problems in stride and are able to regroup quickly understand the importance of leaving the past behind and moving forward. Maintaining perspective and swallowing our emotions allows us to discover the opportunities that lie within our problems. The sooner we discern these opportunities the faster we are back on track and poised for success.

The leader who accepts life’s challenges as normal, no matter how unfair, is the leader best equipped to handle them. Maintaining objectivity in the face of disappointment and failure takes fortitude-a key leadership trait. Our inner strength and grit manifests itself in our determination to move forward quickly and competently in the face of adversity.

The ability to distill the events at hand no matter how devastating and focus on a solution that moves us in the right direction again is the ultimate test of character and of a leader.