Have you ever been challenged to do something no one has done before?
Have you ever taken on a task that seemed overwhelming and not worth the effort?
Have you ever experienced a challenge that was so daunting, the risk seemed greater than the reward?
It was on this date, December 14th in 1911, Norwegian Roald Amundsen becomes the first explorer to reach the South Pole, beating out his British rival, Robert Falcon Scott.
Now, you might be thinking, “So what? Who cares?”
Well, consider the lessons of risk and reward in Mr. Amundsen’s exploration. Among them are that his accomplishment inspired other explorers; he collected useful scientific data; he refined navigational and survival techniques. And as he faced many dangers, he made great personal sacrifices.
All of Mr. Amundsen’s accomplishments have inspired this week’s leadership tip.
Leadership Tip
When you take on something that’s never been done before, or feel overwhelmed with a difficult task, or question if a new challenge is worthwhile, let the achievements of others and their lessons learned inspire you.
Leadership pioneering involves innovation, invention, explorations, risk-taking, vision, change, perseverance, progress, adaptability, transformation, and progress.
At some time in your career, you will be called upon to do pioneering work. It could come in the form of a new product creation or launch, new process changes, new policy conception, new territory development, new joint ventures, business expansion, competitor acquisition—and the list can go on.
When the time comes, you must be ready. I know because I have experienced all these leadership pioneering opportunities plus some (and more than once). Sometimes I experienced great pain; other times great success. Each venture has its own collection of lessons.
How do you get ready to be a pioneer? By creating a high-performance team and inspiring team members to follow your lead to the unknown. You rely on them, mentors, and coaches because you trust their experiences and appreciate their encouragement.
Regardless of your readiness, you will always face sacrifices that can’t be ignored and surprises that must be dealt with.
I agree with medical pioneer Elizabeth Blackwell when she said, “It is not easy to be a pioneer—but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.”
Be the leader who has the vision to see opportunities and the courage to take on the challenges regardless of how difficult, overwhelming, or daunting the task. When you do, you will have made a difference in the world.
