Where are challenges, there are opportunities. And opportunities breed new solutions. Erin Meyer wrote: “If you want to succeed, you will need to adapt.” These words resonate with us deeply, especially now, when we navigate in the uncharted territory of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak that has already touched all aspects of our lives. Local and global businesses are faced with challenging decisions affecting everyone, including their employees, customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.
But we know, that nothing happens in life without reason and purpose. And there are no gains without learning how to embrace challenges in life rather than fearing them. The truth is we don’t want to show the hard work and hours of becoming and succeeding. We would rather emphasize the highlights of what we have become. I believe that who we are is our brand and what we do, deliberately will personalize our brand. More than ever, what we do now, will emphasize who we are.
We need to be aware that we all come from different upbringings that have shaped our cultural and moral norms, beliefs and values. William S. Richardson said: “I am what I am and that’s all that I am,” which implies that we are all unique. We are all beautiful human beings who strive to change and adapt their lives to existing personal and business circumstances. And only those will succeed, who know how to endure and adapt accordingly. Succeeding in different socioeconomic environments requires a different skill set and different approach toward many aspects of business and life, such as “decision making,” “status,” “time,” “context,” “negotiation,” “verbal and nonverbal communication,” “space,” and alike.
Humans have a marvelous ability to use judgement, imagination and empathy to create and play with opportunities that advance and enlighten our daily lives. Our uniquely human strength to put ourselves in another’s shoes helps us to communicate effectively in any social settings and solve surfacing problems.
More than ever, we need leaders who know how to look at challenges with an empathetic eye, ear and voice, backward and forward, because only those leaders with agile thinking, imagination, emotional and cultural intelligence will navigate and conquer in the present challenging business world. And world is watching them closely. The ones who always prioritize people, respect their differences, figure out their pains and needs, as well as contribute with effective solutions, will become the blood flow of difference and change. Time is running out, so when opportunities present themselves, they should stay ready to seize them. And now it is time to offer support, inspiration and motivation to families, friends, coworkers, and strangers. Now it is time to effectively lead by example and held yourself accountable for your difficult decisions. Now it is time to embrace the challenge, seize opportunity, and make a change by acting with impact, for the good of humanity.