Today, let’s explore a timeless truth: We all face adversity. Life throws us curveballs in many different forms: intellectual, physical, emotional, even spiritual. Sometime adversity arrives in small doses over time. Sometimes it hits us all at once, like a Mack truck. Whatever the case, how we choose to respond to adversity determines our destiny.
Business Leaders turning Adversity into Advantage
There are many examples of business leaders who faced adversity and turned it their advantage. Apple, Starbucks and Netflix come to mind.
🍎 Apple’s resurgence in the late 1990s is a classic example of turning adversity into advantage. Apple, led by co-founder Steve Jobs, involved strategic product streamlining and the introduction of iconic devices like the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Jobs’ strategic choice to streamline led to these innovations, which transformed Apple from near bankruptcy to becoming one of the most valuable and influential technology companies in the world.
☕ During the early 2000s when an economic downturn impacted consumer spending, Starbucks faced a situation where they had too many stores, which were cannibalizing each other’s sales. Howard Schultz, the company’s CEO, recognized the need for a strategic shift and made the difficult decision to close underperforming stores. They also introduced new products like the Starbucks Card and mobile payment options. This strategic overhaul revitalized the brand, demonstrating Starbucks’ resilience and adaptability in turning adversity into an opportunity for refining its business model.
🎬 Originally a DVD rental-by-mail service, Netflix faced a crisis in 2011 when it announced a split between its DVD and streaming services, resulting in a significant loss of subscribers and a sharp decline in its stock price. Netflix swiftly reversed course and refocused exclusively on streaming. This shift propelled the company to dominate the streaming industry, reshaping the entertainment landscape with original content and establishing itself as a global streaming giant.
We may not ever face the magnitude of the adversity Apple, Starbucks or Netflix encountered. However, we can learn lessons from the way they turned adversity to their advantage. Here are three strategies that may not only help you weather the storm but empower you to emerge stronger when you’re on the other side, when the clouds part and the sun comes out. Instead of simply “going” through adversity, be grateful and make an intentional choice to “grow” through it.
Embrace Challenges, Shape Triumphs
Embracing challenges is the first step towards shaping triumphs. Consider the compelling tale of twins raised together in a broken home with a drug-addicted mother and an abusive alcoholic father. As you can imagine, one twin fell into the abyss of addiction and instability. The other twin, however, worked diligently, graduated from college then Law School, and went on to lead a successful life despite the challenging upbringing.
Both men were asked the same question: “Why did your life turn out the way it did?” Surprisingly, their answers mirrored one another. While they used different words, they shared the same sentiment. “Based on where I grew up and how I was raised, how could I have turned out any other way?”
The life lesson here is clear – adversity doesn’t define you; your response to it does.
Leadership Tip: Encourage your team or the leaders you support to view adversity and the challenges that accompany it as opportunities for growth. Encourage them to ask questions, like “What else can I do?” and “What can I learn from this?”
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
– Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist and politician
Turning Pain into Purpose
In the time-honored narrative of good vs. evil, heroes vs. villains, effective leaders stand out through their ability to channel adversity into positive action.
The villain says, “The world hurt me, so I’m going to hurt it back.” Contrastingly, the hero says, “The world hurt me, so I’m not going to let this happen to anyone else.”
Effective leaders have a hero’s mindset and adeptly turn adversity to their advantage. They’re like a skilled martial artist who turns an opponent’s attack into an opportunity. They absorb the adversity and redirect it toward a strategic goal. With resilience and precision, these leaders transform setbacks into stepping stones for growth and emerge victorious by turning challenges into opportunities for organizational and personal advancement.
Leadership Tip: As corporate communicators, help leaders craft their story using the hero’s journey story structure and encourage them and your team to adopt the hero’s mindset.
This involves fostering resilience within your team, turning pain into purpose and recognizing that effective communication isn’t just about conveying information but inspiring positive action.
By weaving purpose into your messages, you contribute to a narrative that empowers both your team and your organization.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
– Haruki Murakami, bestselling writer
Crafting Your Destiny… Leadership Choices Matter
Leadership is about making choices, especially in challenging times. Each decision shapes not just your destiny, but that of your team and organization. Crafting your destiny involves aligning your actions with your values. The cliché “walk the talk” comes to mind.
As a leader, the choices you make today reverberate through the corridors of your organization tomorrow. It’s essential to realize that every decision counts and contributes to the legacy you leave behind. By empowering leaders to understand the impact of their choices, we pave the way for purposeful leadership that stands resilient in the face of adversity.
Leadership Tip: Encourage leaders to get crystal clear on what they stand for, which is strongly influenced by their values. Then be radically candid when you see a disconnect between their words and decisions or actions.
Parting Thought
You are not the victim of your story; you are the author of it.
– Lisa Nichols, writer and motivational speaker
As you embark on your own personal journey of becoming a principled and purposeful leader, remember that adversity isn’t the end; it can be the beginning of your own transformative story. Take a moment, reflect on your choices and let them guide you toward becoming the best version of yourself.
Remember: you’re the hero of your own story. The power to shape your destiny already lies within you.
Inspire on!
Thank you, Al, for a wonderful article!