Leading with Perseverance

When things become tough, either at work or in life, it requires grit and perseverance. The road to success is rarely a bed of roses, and it takes hard work and patience to see things through. The only way out is through it.

Perseverance simply means “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering”: steadfastness (Merriam-Webster). 

We know perseverance is essential in work because it allows people to continue working towards their goals even when things get tough.  It allows individuals to develop the necessary skills that will elevate them to the next level. There is a tendency to want to help others eliminate or reduce their struggle, and in doing so, we may unintentionally deprive them of necessary growth.

Instead of rescuing others, we can support them in ways that give them the fortitude to carry on and move through the challenge, resulting in a renewed sense of self-confidence and belief.

Perseverance helps you build character and reap rewards that are everlasting. Here are the top three qualities Perseverant Leaders possess:

1. They Keep Asking Why
   People who persevere are the ones who continue to ask ‘why’. It serves as a constant motivator and keeps you on track. It can be as simple as: why am I doing this? The more you remind yourself, the clearer your purpose gets. This is the fuel that moves you forward.

 

2. They Have Self-Belief
   You may have heard people say: if you don’t believe in yourself, how will they? If you want to achieve anything, you need to believe in your skills and abilities. Successful leaders understand the connection between self-belief and the change they want to make in the world. Fostering your self-belief is developed through perseverance.

3. They Make Room For Vulnerability
   It isn’t easy to face your failures, and it especially isn’t easy to ask for help. Successful people persevere because they know how to learn from their mistakes and overcome setbacks. Instead of giving up, they know how to pick themselves up and ask for help. They aren’t afraid of being vulnerable and reaching out to others in times of need.  

In today’s world, leaders have to consistently challenge their mindset, remain flexible and creative in how they solve issues and persevere with vulnerability. Brene Brown says, “Vulnerability is the best measure of courage”.  

Best, 

Manal

How Feedback Helps Teams Grow

 

Every great leader has a different mix of skills and personality traits that allow them to thrive in this role. Some are extroverts, and some are introverts. Some are collaborative and others are authoritative. They have all worked on developing certain traits of a good leader. These traits allow them to take decisive action, inspire others and communicate a powerful vision. You can too.

The two characteristics we’ll look at today are of Humility and Creativity. Both are required in a questionable, rapidly changing business environment. Being able to change pace quickly is a skill that is mandatory for the success of today’s teams.

Humility is one of the oft-misunderstood leadership attributes that’s actually critical for heading any type of team. Humility is one of the top leadership qualities, but it doesn’t mean being a doormat. Humility shapes your character so that you’re able to embrace your own weaknesses without losing confidence. From this place of self-respect, you’re receptive to others’ feedback, which opens you up to new ideas and solutions. Humility also softens you to genuine connections with other people because it makes you approachable. You’re able to interact with your team, customers, and colleagues from a place of shared humanity, which breaks down communication barriers.

Creativity is one of the most underrated leadership attributes. Yet especially in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing market, it’s actually one of the top leadership qualities in successful businesses. That’s because creativity and innovation go hand in hand. Both are essential to finding your differentiating factor and ensuring that you stand out from the competition.

Companies are creating open work environments that allow the employees and the leaders to work together in collaboration. In our digital, hybrid world, people are on zoom or other video conferencing systems that allow people to be in their own space where they are comfortable. This also tends to lend to the creativity of a team. 

In reference to feedback (and remaining humble), in moments of receiving hard feedback is typically what has allowed those around me to grow the most. When people are growing, they tend to be more creative. Remember this as a leader. Do not be afraid of giving feedback to help your teams grow, be creative, and thrive. 

Best, 

Manal