Should Extreme Adversity Be Part of Leadership Training When Preparing for an Environment of Constant Change?

In an interview with Sue Firth, she and I discussed how adversity at a young age can prepare a person for leadership. While adversity can appear to be detrimental to a young person’s development, it can also prepare them for the challenges life throws at them. In Malcom Gladwell’s book, David and Goliath, he writes about how being dyslexic can prepare a person to work with people smarter than themselves. Gladwell noted that some dyslexic children learned to delegate homework to the smartest child in their class. Or they organized meetings with the smartest kids in different subjects. In another part of the book, Gladwell talked about the person who lost a parent around the age of 20. He noted that person developed the capacity to take over and lead in the face of crisis. This person developed a mindset that allowed them to function effectively when running a business that was experiencing chaos. As the interview continued, Sue discovered how personal life events can also negatively impact workplace productivity. Throughout the interview, it is noted that training people to navigate unforeseen changes can drive innovation and foster an environment where breakthroughs are created intentionally.