Leaders get back up

We spoke the other day about what it meant when you were at the bottom of the barrel, how important it was to see that as an opportunity to rise and take the chance to make the best of your situation. This is a quality found among leaders. You’ve been told by coaches, teachers, friends, instructors, generally anyone with a pulse that “winners never quit and quitters never win.” As cliche as it sounds, it’s important to remember that losing and quitting aren’t the same. Losing is a type of situational criticism, as loss can be our greatest teacher. Sage wisdom doesn’t come from a place of overinflated self-importance, it’s a humble understanding and acceptance of your flaws, your weakness, and the revelation about how to do it better.

What’s important to remember about getting back up is that it’s a sign of personal integrity. Your ability to bounce back after a defeat says as much about you as how you handle your victories. Be gracious and accepting of your losses, even if they hurt, because what comes next will make more out of you than you may realize. No one likes to lose, even at the smallest of games. Human pride is a fragile and often underestimated concept. No matter how much we try to shed our ego, it’s still a part of who we are. We can however, learn to humble it and use our defeats as lessons to improve ourselves and those who support us. There will come a time when someone will be in a situation similar to yours, you may be able to do nothing for them but offer some support and empathy from a place of concern. As a leader, it is your job to pull not only yourself, but those who follow you across the finish line. You can’t build them up if you’re still wallowing in the mud.