On Monday I left my house at 6:40am for an in-person networking event. I haven’t left that early for a work event for a while, and it was a great experience to get in the room with 200 other small businesses. It seemed to be that hope was re-emerging. Many of these businesses have faced challenges they couldn’t conceive of two years ago.
The truth is circumstances do not dictate our level of hope. Without it people quickly give up and quit. What you go through can form something greater in you, should you decide to view it as an opportunity to learn.
It’s A Squeeze
In my book “I See You,” I recount the story of the emperor moth which must push through what looks like an impossibly small hole in its cocoon to emerge fully transformed and ready to face its new reality. It is tempting to try and help make the transition easier however the size of the hole and therefore the challenge of the transition are crucially important to what the moth is becoming. The same is true for every leader who, when facing seemingly impossible odds, must cling on to the hope of their reality the other side of it.
What challenges are you facing at the moment? How are you approaching them? What is your view like?
“When there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.” John Maxwell
“Difficult roads always lead to beautiful destinations.” Zig Ziglar
The question is not whether you will face adversity; it is what will you do to come through it well? There are some things you can do as a leader which will enable not only yourself but those you lead to come through adversity stronger and more resilient than before and emerge with hope intact.
Hope Hacks
- Remember whatever adversity, challenge, or pressure you are facing will not last forever – this too will pass.
- Failure is not an end it is merely a way to discover what doesn’t work – get up and try again.
- Know yourself – what are your tendencies when facing stressful situations? Knowing what you are likely to do enables you to think into what you are doing and get help to see a different way.
- Make sure you have a trusted friend, mentor, or coach you can talk things through with. It is surprising what options appear as the result of being asked some searching questions.
- Be clear on your current reality. Many leaders come unstuck because they do not have clarity on the current situation. To build a bridge from where you are to where you need to be requires you to know how long a span is needed to get you there. Too short and you will run out of road before you get to your destination.
- Right perspective – the decisions you make are affected by the way you look at things. If you believe you can get through what’s happening, you may not yet see all you need to, but in my experience the right perspective trains your mind to look for what you need so when it comes into view you can see it.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” Nelson Mandela
Hope will drive you forward – it doesn’t need to be much. You don’t fail until you give up, I believe someone said. As you emerge from this pandemic think about what you have learnt about yourself and those you lead which would never be known without it. Use the hope this engenders as fuel to get you where you want to be.
As a coach my greatest joy is to see others reach places they never thought possible. Book a 30-minute complimentary call with me here to discover how far you can go.
Stay safe.
