Life is filled with rhythms and cycles. We notice them sometimes.
Certain beginnings and endings are highly visible: the seasons change, and we obviously see different weather, sports, clothing, and food. Babies are born, there are anniversaries, then there’s New Year’s Eve – we recognize a milestone and watch a new year begin.
Other rhythms are job-related. We start a new job, we leave an old one. We say good-bye to colleagues and friends when we move across the country or across town, and we say hello to new people and opportunities.
Then there are the stops and starts that are so difficult. We fail to carry through with a big project, to achieve a goal, and it matters. We become ill. Others in our lives become ill. People leave us, and we don’t want them to. Sometimes we leave relationships.
Sometimes we don’t notice that things have changed. We might not even notice that we’re stressed. Until it’s really stressful. And then it can be overwhelming.
What keeps us moving forward? Leading on?
Perseverance. Endurance. Steadfastness. Determination.
Diligence. Resolve. Persistence. Dedication.
Staying power. Tenacity. Stick-to-itiveness. Doggedness.
Resilience. Grit.
Some people derail when circumstances bring difficulty. They check out and shut down. Others aren’t stopped by anything that comes their way. I’m fascinated by both reactions. What makes the difference?
At Lead On, we’ll explore examples of what it takes to continue when things are hard. Examples of what works and what doesn’t.
Lead is mostly about how you guide yourself. It’s what you do, how you think, what you put into practice. Yes, sometimes it might be about you and others. The primary focus is you: managing yourself well, especially when things are difficult.
And On is the way forward. The journey. The path. Moving on? Yes, at times. And at other times, the way forward is a pause: reflection, restoration, rest.
“I’m not dwelling on it,” said my friend Daniel, recalling the really difficult conversation with his boss about his low performance rating. “Yes, we were brutally honest, and I didn’t like hearing criticism. Even if it was true. Now I’m focusing on how I can get better. I’m diving into the action plan for improving, and it’s time to make it happen.”
Daniel’s approach sounds helpful, and we might wonder: Has he always handled difficulty in this manner, or did he learn it? Can we learn “the bounce-back” – that length of time it takes to get back on track?
The short answer is yes. We can learn and grow our ability to have – and effectively use – tenacity, determination, and grit. That’s what we’ll explore here.
Because Lead On is a place to explore stories, research, and practical tips about carrying on when life is rough. Our perspective is work and non-work – what does having grit mean at work? Or outside work?
Leading yourself well and leading others well are two of the hardest things you’ll do in life. We all fail, and we have growth opportunities with every fail. Read Lead On to find insight, resources and tools, and stories about people like you.
Our lives are a series of starts and stops. And we have a lot more choice than we realize in how we start – how we begin again – after a stop.
Lead On.
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