Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat

The title of this blog entry comes from an image my wife and I had an artist create for our daughter's room a few years ago.  This Latin phrase roughly translates into "Fortune Favors the Bold" and so far has been a very apt description of the persona of our now three-year old girl.  She excels in finding new, innovative and bold ways to test the patience of her parents on a daily if not hourly basis.

The phrase, however, is also a very apt description for the mentality and qualities it takes to be an effective leader.  Opportunities to lead or to be successful rarely just fall into our laps.  However, too many people have exactly that expectation.  There is a notion that at some point others will recognize our skill or ability and magically anoint us "leader" or give us that next big promotion.  This is truly the lottery ticket version of leadership - one day my number will be called.  As many of us know, however, the odds of winning the lottery are somewhat less than the chance of getting struck by lightning.

Fortune does indeed favor the bold.  Opportunity rarely comes in a nicely wrapped package.  More often opportunity presents itself in a form more akin to a lump of coal.  Perhaps we are overlooked for a leadership opportunity we thought was rightfully ours.  Even worse, perhaps we are let go from an organization and are now at a loss as to where to go next.  Not many people would describe these circumstances as an opportunity.  But they are.  No different than if your own organization fails to win a lucrative contract or fails to break into a new market.  At this point of failure, rejection, and overall ugliness you - either personally or as a leader for your organization - have the choice to grow, learn and reload OR become bitter, mope and blame circumstances for the current predicament.  You can either be a victim of circumstance or take charge of your future.  It takes not a small amount of courage to take the harder path.  Adversity is opportunity.  Fortune favors the bold.

Certainly (and hopefully) you need not wait for some adverse episode or outcome to seek out opportunity.  An effective leader - whether focused on personal growth and development or the success of their organization - is always scanning the environment, evaluating not only risk but considering new ventures and angles to improve, to build new markets and products.  Leadership is about actively prospecting for opportunity.  Leadership is about being ready for and initiating change. 
Too often we hold ourselves back with our own fear of failure and other self-imposed barriers and limitations.  The current business environment may in fact help promote this risk-adverse approach.  Better to manage carefully, slowly, get all the information and try to make the perfect, mistake-free decision.  Unfortunately, while seemingly safe, this approach likely means that somebody with a bit more courage and fortitude has already beat us to the punch.  Fortune favors the bold.

The reality is that we rarely have all the information we think we need to make the best decision possible.  The world is simply too messy and complicated to expect all the information to be at hand at a time and place of our choosing.  Opportunity is won or lost on the ability to take decisive action with imperfect information.  Similarly, we delude ourselves that we will ever have the perfect plan in place that guarantees success or conversely can mitigate every risk.  An old military adage is that no plan survives contact with the enemy.  As a leader you must have confidence in your goals but flexibility in your plan if you are to be successful.  Beyond that you must also have the courage to learn, to change and adapt.  You must have humility in the face of changing circumstances and be prepared to adjust as you go. 

Above all successful leaders - and successful people in general - are not passive in the face of circumstances.  They are not content to let the currents of fate dictate their future or their level of success.  While they may be afraid, concerned, and anxious they are prepared to dive in, take the plunge, seize the opportunity.  They are prepared to struggle, to learn, to make mistakes, to adjust and make the best of their opportunities.

Make the best of your opportunities.  Push yourself.  Challenge your self-limiting beliefs.  At the end of day whether in your personal life or for your leadership role, Fortune Favors the Bold!
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Greg Hadubiak, MHSA, FACHE, CEC, PCC
TEC Canada Chair/Executive Coach/Senior Consultant
hadubiak@wmc.ca

Helping leaders realize their strengths and enabling organizations to achieve their potential through the application of my leadership experience and coaching skills. I act as a point of leverage for my clients. I AM their Force Multiplier.