It seems as if there are two kinds of people: Those who can’t get started, and those who can’t stop.

And, most often, it’s those who can’t stop that assume leadership roles.

When pursuing fitness goals, most people try to prepare quickly for an event (i.e. lose weight by next week or get ‘back in shape’ now). The fitness and supplement industry targets people with these desires. These marketing campaigns support distorted expectations of what growth and accomplishment can and should be. Additionally, they undermine long-term goals because their short-term promises are either false or unsustainable.

This is completely different when working with athletes. Whether motivated by competition or personal enjoyment, people who remain athletic throughout their lifetime understand that conditioning takes time, strength takes time, and healing takes time.

Time is a tool we use.

People who don’t wait well don’t achieve the results they hope for.

In leadership there are, at least, four areas where patience is a key virtue. Without patience, we can miss achieving long-term, sustainable, lasting success.

• Build Credibility: If you’re a new leader, or a leader in a new position, remember it takes time to prove yourself. Research what people need to experience in order for them to extend their trust. Then, allow time for trust to grow. The only short cut is consistency on your part: Do what you say you will do, meet the expectations of your position, and give it time.

• Have Patience With Yourself: If you feel that you don’t have everything it takes to do your job, you’re probably right; however, you can grow and learn. Learn to accept and pursue steady, incremental growth. Learn to set a few, clear goals for growth each year and work steadily to pursue them.

• Have Patience With Others: Similar to the above: If you feel that your staff does not have everything they need to do their jobs, you may be right. Help them identify a few, achievable goals each year. Support them as they accomplish those goals, making sure the goals are measurable so progress can be tracked. The discipline of identifying the time it takes to grow, while sketching out a plan to get there, helps you mentally and emotionally accept the wait for growth.

• Wait For Projects or Initiatives To Bear Fruit: One of my clients, a national leader in their field, is led by an energetic, early-adopter. He sees, grasps, and pursues new ideas and new tools easily and quickly. When I first began working with his organization, this leader was overwhelming his team with new ideas, tools, systems and strategies. Our work included encouraging this leader to slow down and wait for new ideas to be fully implemented and bear fruit before moving on to the next goal. Having accomplished this, the organization has been able to achieve and maintain annual growth of no less than 50%, with little turnover. As a leader, you must gain a reasonable sense of how long it should take a project to show its value, and give it time.

Yes, good leaders want to “get moving”; but excellent leaders, particularly over the long haul, know when and how to wait.

I love your feedback; keep it coming!

• Which area do you find is most difficult for you to be patient?
• How can you become more effective at waiting?
• Are there other areas where you think patience is important?