The Warrior's Greatest Weapon is Patience
When we ask God for patience, does He magically make us more patient? Not from my experience. Rather, He gives us opportunities to stretch ourselves and, in a sense, exercise our “patience muscle”. Much like other muscles, there is always room for growth. I am currently experiencing such an opportunity…to grow my patience muscle.
The statement, "A warrior's greatest weapon is patience", is my inspiration for today’s post and is attributed to the legendary Japanese swordsman and warrior, Miyamoto Musashi. We can apply this mindset to our work of progressing through martial arts. It is a slow, tedious process where details must be mastered. There are no shortcuts or easy ways out. This concept also applies to leadership and personal development.
We find ourselves in a world where many of our experiences are tied to immediate gratification. I have worked with high-level VPs and C-Suite leaders who are so focused on current financial earnings or ensuring that shareholder value increases by the next quarter that they lose sight of the long-term implications of their decisions. There have been conversations where plans presented showed a cost-benefit analysis revealing significant gains for the company within the next 9 to 12 months, only to have line-of-business owners ask, “What’s in it for me, now?” The reality is that whether in leadership or just living everyday lives, we are all under a lot of real or perceived pressure to provide near-term results.
Patience takes resilience and carries profound wisdom for all of us. While it might seem like a virtue of the past, patience is still critical to leadership and team success. We are more effective as leaders when we strive to build long-term, real-life success. This requires that we rely on patience and perseverance, sometimes to the point of discomfort. To be clear, patience is not about passivity or inaction; it's about the ability to remain calm, focused, and strategic, even in the face of adversity and the “tyranny of the urgent”.
In leadership, patience can be displayed in various ways. It's the ability to listen deeply to team members, understanding their perspectives and challenges without immediately jumping to solutions. It's the wisdom to know when and how to allow individuals and teams the time they need to develop their skills and reach their full potential. It's the strength to resist the urge to micromanage. Enabling others to take ownership and learn from their experiences is how most people grow and develop. Patience recognizes that significant achievements rarely happen overnight. It requires a long-term vision, the perseverance to overcome obstacles, and the understanding that setbacks are often stepping stones to success.
One of the most challenging aspects of leadership is dealing with setbacks and failures. A patient leader understands that these are inevitable parts of the journey. Instead of reacting with anger or blame, I need to approach these situations with a calm and analytical mindset. I should work on framing failures as opportunities for learning and growth, both for myself and my teams. This approach fosters a culture of psychological safety, where individuals feel comfortable taking risks and innovating, knowing that they won't be punished for honest mistakes.
Exercising patience allows us to make more thoughtful and strategic decisions. In high-pressure situations, the instinct is to react quickly. This often leads to poor choices and inaccurate conclusions. If I am a patient leader, I take the time to gather as much of the necessary information as feasible, carefully weigh the options, and consider the potential consequences of each identified course of action. This deliberate approach minimizes the risk of knee-jerk reactions or impulsive decisions and increases the likelihood of achieving the desired outcome.
In situations that often celebrate speed and instant gratification, the wisdom of Miyamoto Musashi reminds us that patience is a powerful virtue. For leaders, it's not just a virtue; it's a strategic imperative. By cultivating patience, we can foster growth, build resilience, and achieve lasting success for ourselves and our teams.
