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How to Lead During Turbulent Times

by | Nov 14, 2008 | Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision

Thankfully, the election is over.  We now have clarity about who is going to lead our country for the next four years.  I have never personally witnessed such excitement and hopefulness following an election (though I acknowledge that not everyone shared that sentiment).  

However, the problems still remain. The stock market continues to remain volatile.  I am not sure that this is so much a response to President-Elect Obama as it is a reflection of the fact that the economic environment is still enormously turbulent.

Glass Half Full 

So is the glass half empty or half full? The truth is, both.


In times like these, leaders must do two things simultaneously:


  1. Confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.
  2. Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties. 

This is what author Jim Collins refers to as “The Stockdale Paradox.” In his book, Good to Great, he tells the story of Admiral James Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war for eight years during the Vietnam War.

After his release, a reporter asked Admiral Stockdale, “How in the world did you survive eight years in a prisoner of war camp?”

He replied,

I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that we would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event in my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.

The reporter then asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” Admiral Stockdale replied,

Oh, that’s easy, the optimists. They were the ones who said, “We’re going to be out by Christmas.” And Christmas would come and go. Then they’d say, “We’re going to be out by Easter.” And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.”

Collins then goes onto state that an attribute of truly great companies and great leaders is that they are able to embrace simultaneously these twin truths of their current reality and their ultimate triumph.

Questions: Are you embracing the Stockdale Paradox in your leadership? If so, how?

© 2008, Michael S. Hyatt. Used by Permission. Originally posted at www.michaelhyatt.com.
I'm Bloggin Live @ Granger Church featuring Andy Stanley & Craig Groeschel

10 Reasons You're Probably Going to Fail

by | Nov 13, 2008 | Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision

Fail-1 

I’d like to share with you “10 Reasons Why You're Probably Going to Fail” from a blog I ran across by Tony Morgan. 

  1. It’s not your passion. If it doesn’t make your
    heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep,
    you’re probably doing the wrong thing.
  2. You don’t have a plan. You need a vision, and you
    need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality.
    That includes a financial plan. (I happen to believe you need direction
    from God on this.)
  3. You’re waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive
    it. Beta-test that new idea. You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if
    you think it has to be absolutely right from day one.
  4. You’re not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance.
  5. It’ll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not.
  6. You’ve had success in the past. I’ve watched
    organizations hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes.
    Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next
    wave.
  7. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else.
    Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a
    healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women.
    Who/what do you need to stop dating?
  8. You won’t build a team of friends. Anyone can hire
    from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In
    the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the
    morning.
  9. You won’t have the tough conversations. When
    breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their
    big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to
    relational healing.
  10. You’re afraid of failure. When fear consumes you,
    it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract
    you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity.
    The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success

Now why am I sharing this with you? Well, these things just hit me hard and I wanted to share them with you. What do yall think – care to add to the list?