A Crucible Year?
Welcome to the fall of 2020! We are experiencing a start to the academic year like no other. How will we navigate the ongoing complexity and uncertainty?
Over these past few weeks, we have been teaching several programs, one of which was The Authentic Leader. During the final session, participants explored "crucible moments" (True North, Bill George). A crucible moment is the real test of our character. It provides an opportunity for learning and growth and is often formative for what comes next in our life. Too often though, crucible moments can be incapacitating; they can cause anger and grief, and prompt us to feel like a victim. As a result, the temptation is to go into denial and to shut down.
Have you experienced your own crucible moment as we navigate the global pandemic? If so, how might you pull yourself through it? Here are a number of strategies Bill George recommends:
Rely on yourself—and others. Ground yourself in your purpose, your authentic self, and your self-belief that you can and will get through this. Reflect back on previous crucible moments and remind yourself how you got through them. Perhaps the most helpful strategy we have used to navigate our own crucibles has been the support of others. Surround yourself with positive, forward-thinking friends and colleagues. While nobody can do your internal work for you, these friends and colleagues provide much needed perspective, encouragement, and comfort.
As we reflect on this crucible year for universities across the world, if this crucible moment is formative for what comes next, what would you like that to be? How might this crucible moment be the genesis of THAT vision?
We will leave the last words of this newsletter to the master of the crucible, John Lewis:
"I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe."