MOVING BEYOND

People must be intentional and purposeful about finding the constructive leadership lessons in hardship. Learning positive lessons is not automatic. It requires that people be willing to look inward and face whatever they find there. This kind of introspection goes against the grain for many people. Yet without reflection and careful attention, it is easy to become cynical and feel victimized rather than learn positive and enduring lessons.

People must also learn how to move beyond the hardship. One difference between leaders who are effective and those who are not is that effective leaders learn to face up to their hardships, acknowledge the effects, then let go. They don't get stuck, bitter, or cynical or continue to berate themselves.

The goal is to develop well-rounded leaders who have the skills and personal attributes needed to adapt, be resilient, and combine toughness with compassion, self-confidence with humility, and individuality with team effort. The goal is to develop not ideal leaders of mythic proportions but rather leaders who have the ability to better handle the things thrown their way in these times of extreme and perpetual turbulence.