“It was just another Monday when that call came in. The phone rang and I reached for it as I had done for the past seven years. Nothing marked that moment as the start of something horrific, no hint that my world had already started to collapse, no warning that an inconceivable nightmare was unfolding. It was just a phone call. As I picked up the receiver and glanced out my (office) window at the overcast day with its gathering clouds, I could barely comprehend the words being spoken. It was just past 3:30 on the afternoon of August 10th …”
Excerpt from, Conquering Adversity: Six Strategies to Move You and Your Team Through Tough Times (Cornerstone Leadership Institute; Christopher Novak, 2004)
I took that call. I lived its nightmare. But the reality of life is that we are all never far from adversity, never far from that moment that changes us forever. It can be in the uncertainty of tomorrow or the harshness of today but adversity will find us – at work and at home, testing our ability to cope, to understand, to lead. All of us have – or will – face serious adversity. It’s not a matter of if – it’s a matter of when.
So how can we prepare to meet a challenge we cannot yet define? How do we anticipate the answer before we even know the question? What steps can we take to ready our team to face adversity in whatever form and on whatever field it chooses to engage us?
Truth is, we need a hero. The good news is, we have one. There is a hero inside each of us waiting to be discovered and unleashed. The secret to conquering adversity, to leading ourselves and others forward with purpose and passion, to is to unleash that hero. But how?
I have found six strategies – affirmation, expectation, communication, locomotion, collaboration, celebration – that make a difference:
Strategy #1: Affirmation
- Identify bedrock values
- Recognize what is and is not lost
- Accept a “healthy selfishness”
This is recognition of your bedrock values – those unshakable elements of your character that do not change with outside influences. Heroes don’t just stand for something, they stand on something – and that something is an unwavering set of principles and values that help them regain their footing when they’ve been knocked down.
Application: “Values that are visible are viable.”
- What does my organization stand on?
- What are our vision and our collective values?
- How do we respond to change or uncertainty?
Strategy #2: Expectation
- Life is not fair, so don’t expect it to be
- Apply optimism
- Avoid the “Why? Traps”
Life isn’t fair, plain and simple, so we shouldn’t expect it to be. The underlying truth is that life does not adhere to a fairness standard – bad things happen to good people. We are often faced with situations that are unjust, uncalled for or untrue but even in the midst of these disappointments, we must still excel. It starts with the conscious decision to act rather than lament, a recognition that some questions need action, not answers.
Application: “We must expect to succeed.”
- Do we let even valid disappointment affect our performance, attitude or results?
- Do we routinely use the language of the optimist?
- Are we fixated on “why?” or are we inspired by “how?”
Strategy #3: Communication
- Communicate with your heart
- Communicate now!
- Invite others to help
To be effective in overcoming adversity, we must be as comfortable speaking our hearts as we are speaking our minds. Communication is about sharing what we feel, not just what we know. This is difficult for many of us to develop because we guard our emotions closely. Yet, effective leaders have the ability to connect with those they lead on a more personal level. Give people a plan, and they will follow it. Give them a vision, and they will move mountains.
Application: “Communication is not about talking. It’s about sharing.”
- Do I verbalize positive thoughts or feelings?
- When was the last time I shared my vision of our organization with my team?
- Do I model an openness and accessibility that invites others to share with me?
Strategy #4: Locomotion
- Develop a “speed-is-life” mentality
- Develop the mindset of the traveler, not the settler
- Master the power of persistence
In the struggle between stone and water, in time, the water wins. This Chinese proverb captures the essence of the Locomotion strategy. Purposeful motion is a powerful tool for reshaping our reality, especially in the face of adversity or crisis. We must accept the burden of leadership and make decisions, adjust to outcomes, and then make more decisions. It is impossible to create momentum without motion, so engage the challenge.
Application: “Embrace the need to make positive things happen.”
- Do I accept imperfection in the pursuit of excellence?
- Am I perceived as a change-agent or a change-obstacle?
- How can we promote and recognize persistence?
Strategy #5: Collaboration
- Create a Collaboration Circle
- Welcome empathy, not sympathy
- Seek work-life balance
Conquering adversity is a team effort. Collaboration is about building a network of relationships before adversity strikes. “You can’t build shelter in a hurricane,” so developing a strong circle of support now is critical. Who can you count on? Who will be with you through thick and thin? What partnerships can you encourage or strengthen? People are more than willing to help when they know that help is both welcomed and appreciated. Take the time to develop your support team before you need it.
Application: “Discovering our inner hero also means discovering those who make us stronger.”
- How can I develop a stronger, more vibrant team?
- Do I take a personal interest in doing the right things?
- Do I model and support a healthy work-life balance?
Strategy #6: Celebration
- Experience laughter
- Mandatory downtime
- Create positive consequences from negative events
Even in the midst of serious adversity, there will be small victories but if we’re not looking for them we miss the opportunity to celebrate them. Celebration recharges our emotional batteries, strengthens the ties with our support team, and acknowledges progress no matter how modest. Find reasons to share a smile or a laugh, or to pass on a word of encouragement.
Application: “Celebration is not about forgetting anything but remembering everything.”
- When was the last time I surprised my team with something fun?
- What positive consequences can I help to create from recent negative events?
- How do we look for, recognize and celebrate even small successes?
These are real-world insights, not theoretical musings. They have true-life roots stretching back to an overcast afternoon on August 10, 1998, at just past 3:30 PM, when a call came in that changed my life forever. As my wife Cynthia drove home from work, a man high on drugs and out to sell his poison ran a stop sign at high speed. She was seven months pregnant with our second child. The sudden, senseless tragedy devastated so many lives, but in its wake we have found valuable lessons to help others survive their own torturous journeys.
There is no single way to rise above adversity and find success. Each situation brings its own unique variables, consequences and considerations. Our challenge is not to guess or fear the next adversity but rather to prepare ourselves and others to face whatever crisis may come with confidence and courage. It’s about finding and unleashing the hero inside each of us.
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