The Passionate Pursuit

Over the most recent Christmas season I presented a book to each member of my TEC Canada CEO Forum.  Really just a small token of my appreciation for having had the opportunity to work with each of them in this past year and a commitment to continue working with them on their leadership and business journey in the year to come.

Historically, whether as CEO or senior leader within my past organizations, I have used the gift of books to reward, recognize and/or inspire those I work with.  I have often gravitated to the true life stories of individuals who have achieved against great odds or have shown an amazing determination to succeed.  This year was very much along that lines.  The book I choose to pass on as a gift was "Alone Against the North" and chronicles one Canadian explorer's years' long obsession and journey into the remote and forbidding wilderness of the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

As I read explorer Adam Shoalts' story about his many journeys into the Hudson Bay area it was clear that this obsession was in fact his passion.  He endured many trials and tribulations including lack of companionship, inadequate equipment, storms, isolation, injury, wildlife encounters (polar bears most notably), and hoards of mosquitoes and black flies.  There was little else to be gained by such venture in terms of fame or fortune.  Rather the desire to explore the unknown, to contribute to knowledge of a vast wilderness, to see and experience something no one else had - these were the things that kept Shoalts motivated and enduring when others gave up.  It also inspired and motivated Shoalts to begin a journey that few others are even inspired to undertake.

The story of Shoalts reminded me of other similar inspirational stories that I had read before.  Very man of these are in the same exploration vein.  The story of Ernest Shackleton immediately comes to mind.  In many ways this could be called a spectacular and courageous failure.  To a potentially a greater degree than Shoalts, Shackleton might have been motivated by fame and fortune in trying to lead the first expedition to traverse the Antarctic continent in 1914.  But this grand vision gradually gave way to an imperative of mere survival as his ship, the Endurance, was crushed by the overpowering grip of polar ice leaving his 28 man crew stranded on a polar ice floe.  At several points after their stranding, a man of less commitment and passion could have given up the ghost.  Just as clearly, a man of lessor integrity and passion for his men could have saved himself.  But Shackleton did neither of these things.  He persevered against all odds - which were decidedly stacked against him - and rescued every single one of his men.

The underlying theme it seems to me in these stories and in stories of similar explorers, adventurers and even athletes, is that what drives them to withstand pain, suffering, failure, and even the risk of death is their passionate pursuit of something bigger than themselves.  In the case of Shoalts it is clear to me that he would have pursued his exploration goal regardless of achievement or recognition.  He felt a stronger pull and a commitment to a grander purpose.  Likewise Shackleton might not have been castigated for losing his ship and men in such dire circumstances.  He might have been easily forgiven for not going to the lengths he did to save his men.  But it was not in his makeup to give up.  He was passionately committed to his men and to something bigger than financial or reputational reward.

These and other stories speak to the kind of passionate leader I aspire to be and I hope that I can work with in my career.  These stories beg the question of my leadership as to what am I prepared to endure to hold true to my passion and values as a leader.  Could I ever sustain and be as passionately committed to a goal in the same way as Shoalts and Shackelton?  Would I be prepared to sacrifice as much as they were prepared to in order to have "success" on their own terms.

So I put to you - what animates your passionate pursuit of leadership?  Are you motivated by fame, fortune, glory and accolades?  Or is there something bigger that keeps your leadership flame alight even in the darkest hour?  Can you demonstrate your passionate pursuit of leadership in a way that truly inspires your followers?  Can you hold to your true north even when no one else is looking or expecting that level of excellence?
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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.