Adversity into Opportunity

There’s a fabulous story — a parable of sorts — told by Mary Sullivan.  In it, she likens human beings to carrots, eggs and coffee beans.  She notes that all three are subjected to boiling water — the equivalent of life experiences.  Carrots will turn to mush the longer they’re submerged.  Eggs, will turn hard on the inside.   Coffee beans, however, transform the water itself so that it becomes coffee — a tasty, warm beverage.  So here’s my question:  as a leader, do you look at your circumstances and make excuses? Or do you take what you’ve got and transform it?

Here’s the thing:  if you look at your circumstances and use those to constantly explain and excuse why things aren’t working, you’re an excuse-maker and not very effective as a leader.  You probably tell yourself that you’re simply explaining the reality of the situation.  And while on the surface this may seem true, there is another truth, which is this:  you’re not seeing past the “reality” of what is, to the “opportunity” that might be.  If, however, you’re able to look at challenges and notice the opportunity within, if you’re able to take lemons and make lemonade, if you’re able to use your skills to transform the supposed adversity into a situation that actually works for all concerned, then you’re in your leadership groove and truly leading.

So, how do you transform adversity into opportunity?  How do you avoid getting stuck in a constant analysis of what isn’t working, and shift yourself to the place of making things work?  Simply put, you hold the following question ALL THE TIME:  “What’s the opportunity here?”  And, you find people in your life who can work with you in the transformation process.  So, for  example, if you feel like you’ve been dealt an unfair hand, given team players who are less skilled than others, or find yourself confronted with “negative attitudes” ask yourself, what’s the opportunity here — what can I create?  If you feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end of the pool with no life jacket, or if you’re surrounded by people with more experience and you’re feeling insecure, ask yourself, what’s the opportunity — what can I learn?  If you’re feeling misunderstood, like those around you don’t understand your vision, ask yourself, what’s the opportunity — how might I communicate?  When you look for the opportunity, you will find it.  And then, you’ve got to seize it.

Bottom-line:  your job as a leader is to transform situations and circumstances so that what appears to be filled with adversity actually reveals itself as an opportunity.  And if doing this on your own seems daunting, know this:  you are not on your own.  Real leaders — the most effective leaders — lead with support.  Find your support system, then transform adversity into opportunity.  That’s what makes the great ones great.