Holding The Line

I hope this month’s e-newsletter finds you all well and with the continued resolve to look for the lightness, beauty, and silver linings in the world we are all navigating - the message I focussed on last month.

Increasingly as I observe the world around me I am realising the importance of resolve and determination to achieve and impact change.  Our Victorian brothers and sisters have only very recently seen the end of 110 days of COVID-19 mandated lockdown.  It would have been easy and more popular for the Victorian Premier to have eased restrictions earlier, for the people of Victoria to give up and reel against the hardships they were experiencing every day, but resolve, grit and determination prevailed and as a result of this State and it’s leaders holding the line, what was only a few weeks ago described as a deeply concerning second pandemic wave, has now been reduced to consecutive days of zero cases and deaths.  A true reflection on the unity, commitment, and grit of this State.

In contrast, we have seen other cities and countries where individualism has been chosen over the collective good as the response to the pandemic related health risks, and as a consequence, we have seen the correlation between the lack of resolve and dedication to the collective end greater good, and rising pandemic related infection and death rates.

So plain and simple (and I know it isn't always this black and white) the lesson that I take from what I have observed is that when we are called upon to put the greater good before our own individual needs or wants, when we are called upon to experience shorter-term hardship for longer-term wellbeing, when we are called upon to choose the collective over the individual, the choices we make don’t only reflect our character and our values, but can literally save lives.

The decision to hold the line is something we will face time and time again in our life.  In business, in leadership, and in volatile, high-pressure situations.  It is so important that we can learn when to put the greater good first and when to prioritise our self-interests and needs.  Great leadership requires us to commit to being a part of and responsible for something bigger than ourselves, keeping the greater good in our sights, but never at the expense of our own wellbeing.  It’s a balance and a challenge we are all being called upon to take up and manage better than we have done.