“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.”
― Robert Jordan, The Fires of Heaven
There was a time in my life when I was inflexible.
Incapable of compromise.
My way or the highway was my operating system.
I was opinionated. Stubborn and headstrong.
I had a temper.
Petty things could push me over the edge. If you didn’t agree with me, I would dismiss it and move on.
Content to let you be wrong.
I was young. Immature. And lacking wisdom.
I believed that compromise and flexibility were signs of weakness.
That somehow I was “wishy-washy” and not resolute in my beliefs.
I was wrong.
What I’ve learned in the decades since is that compromise and flexibility are signs of intelligence.
Not weakness.
I believe they are the truest pursuits of a win-win philosophy in business and in life.
Every meaningful and healthy relationship requires a degree of compromise and flexibility.
This is perhaps the most necessary of leadership traits.
Especially now.
Bold flexibility is a hallmark of great leaders.
What is bold flexibility?
The willingness to see the entire picture and not just the one skewed by our own perspectives and opinions.
It is necessary in order to create a culture of trust. It is the perfect balance of flexibility and accountability.
When I was inflexible and uncompromising it was because I could only see through the lens of my own experience.
I didn’t understand that great leaders know when to lead…and when to follow.
It wasn’t until I learned about compassionate leadership that I began to see things differently.
To begin evolving into a leader who put people first.
It changed everything.
How did I learn about compassionate leadership?
A mentor who was willing to show me the way.
Someone who saw the best in me and was willing to invest in my growth with patience, kindness, and compassion.
A leader who modeled the lessons he was teaching.
He taught me how to bend when the winds of change and uncertainty would blow.
To challenge my assumptions and points of view in order to embrace a broader perspective.
He made me better.
This week I want to encourage you to unleash the force of flexibility to deepen engagement and connection with the people around you.
And, to see old things in new ways and embrace the opportunity to gain insights that perhaps have been hiding in plain sight.
Make it an incredible week.
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Kevin D. Brown is a branding and culture expert. He’s an award-winning motivational speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of The Hero Effect®. Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.