Successful CEOs know setbacks are inevitable. Persistence is what defines those who ultimately break through. It's the unrelenting tenacity to find new solutions, adapt, recover quickly from failures, and maintain focus on long-term goals even when progress seems slow. It should not be confused with stubbornness, which can trap teams on doomed paths. Persistence is paired with agility!
Let's look at why it matters:
- Problem-Solving Foundation: Tenacity drives innovation as teams work tirelessly until they unlock unique solutions, rather than giving up.
- Adaptability Fuel: Setbacks aren't seen as failures worth stopping for, but rather as course-correction points on the learning journey.
- Confidence Builder: Overcoming challenges strengthens a team's self-belief in their ability to tackle seemingly impossible new goals.
- Competitive Edge: Persistent leaders weather economic downturns, disruptors, and other hurdles while less tenacious rivals fall away.
- Culture Changer: When the CEO models tenacity, it gives permission for teams to adopt a "never say die" mindset, driving success.
Typical Signs Persistence Needs Recharging
- The First Hurdle Hangover: One setback derails plans. There's an air of defeat or frustration disproportionate to the obstacle's size.
- Tunnel Vision Fixation: Stubborn focus on ONE solution despite it not working; resistance to exploring alternative or revised paths.
- Blame Game Addiction: Finger-pointing about failed plans, rather than accepting the need to analyze WHY it didn't work and course-correct.
- Fading Passion: When leaders express doubt or a decreasing sense of urgency, it becomes difficult to maintain team perseverance.
- Risk Paralysis: Overemphasis on past missteps prevents trying again with adjusted approaches, resulting in missed opportunities.
Five Practices of the Unstoppable Leader
- Reframing Failure: Teach teams to dissect errors for "how NOT to do it" insights, turning losses into steps toward future wins.
- Calculated, Not Reckless: Balance tenacity with smart analysis; know when a pivot is wiser than banging your head against a wall.
- Celebrating Effort, Not Only Outcome: Highlight hard work, resourcefulness, and problem-solving as victories even if a plan fully fails.
- The Art of the Pivot: Emphasize that shifting tactics with newfound intel is clever, not giving up. Reward adaptable approaches.
- Mission as Motivation: Constantly connecting day-to-day successes or efforts back to the overarching purpose to drive tenacity.
Five Ways to Build Team Staying Power
- "Obstacle Course" Thinking: Stage mini-challenges with hurdles built in – teaches problem-solving as setbacks are the expectation.
- Immediate Action: Choose ONE recurring issue. Have small groups design an 'obstacle course' of what often goes wrong for new trainings.
- Iteration as Success Metric: Set expectations that even great products and plans get to an audience through revision and refinement.
- Immediate Action: Ask every team for early stage, messy work in progress on major goals next meeting. Lessen fear of imperfection.
- Public "Recovery Spotlights": Have leaders share past major missteps, then detail HOW they rebounded. Makes grit less abstract.
- Immediate Action: Can a seasoned, respected employee do this – not just exec level? Shows success is messy path regardless of title.
- Failure Post-Mortems: Structured process to deep-dive into WHY something didn't work, making lessons applicable to future challenges.
- Immediate Action: Pick a recent flop. Use simple framework: (What was intended?/What actually happened?/Why the gap?) on one shared doc.
- Grit Rewards: Regularly recognize those demonstrating persistence. Gift time instead of stuff if budgets are tight (extra hour off etc.).
- Immediate Action: Start channel dedicated to shouting out those overcoming hurdles, going the extra mile. Shows what you notice.