Adversity & Duality

I was heading to the gym a few mornings ago with my second cup of coffee and instead of my normal Tasmanian Devil fury of energy I was extremely pensive and insular for some reason. However, deep self-assessment can be motivating and revitalizing, so I went with it. I was contemplating some recent articles I had shared with my new team members at DGCI about self-awareness and emotional quotient (E.Q.). I was wondering what impact these writings were having on people as I was preparing us for the next step of our journey. Concurrently, I was thinking about the next article I was going to send them about the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Physical Fitness and for some reason I thought about Adversity Intelligence. Then, I remembered a book I read awhile back about another quotient that was gaining serious attention; “Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities”. That made me think about how adversity has impacted me my over my career. Furthermore, while it has generally been the result of a disappointment, failure, or challenging situation, I’ve regularly turned it into a very positive outcome and success.

As I dug deeper and thought about challenges ahead, I remembered the article stated, “if emotional quotient is one’s ability to handle emotions well, then Adversity Quotient or Adversity Intelligence is the ability to handle adversities well” which make perfect sense: A.Q. is resiliency! In my opinion, this is one of the most sought-after characteristics I look for in a person. It is known by many other names: mental toughness, iron will, backbone, intestinal, fortitude, persistence, tenacity, grit, hardcore and resolve but they all mean the same; a never quit, never surrender, Lead With Action attitude. I tend to associate A.Q. with endurance, passion, and toughness during trying times and view it as a better predictor of success.

People with high A.Q. are the ones who shine in dire situations. They can adapt to drastic changes in an organization, such as changes in management, sudden cost-cutting measures, and being assigned heavier workloads. It does not mean that they sacrifice personal well-being for the sake of determination, just the opposite. They make sure they try to find a balance to deliver results and positive outcomes while maintaining positive mental, physical, social and emotional wellness.

In the face of adversity, high-A.Q. people tend to think they have some level of influence over the adversity. Of course, not all adverse situations can be controlled. However, A.Q. people believe they can achieve certain outcomes despite dire circumstances and are motivated to be proactive and act. A.Q. people also seem to have stamina or high endurance levels because they view adversity as temporary. They are resolute and robust in enduring, as in the old Persian adage “This too shall pass” ??? ??? ??????, ; they believe they will preserve over any challenge.

People that I identify with high (A.Q.) adversity quotient have the following traits.

•    Are realist with a positive attitude - Optimistic Realist
•       Have an active approach toward solving life’s problems
•       Tend to perceive their experiences constructively
•       Can gain others’ positive awareness and engagement
•       Typically use some form of faith to maintain a positive outlook
•       Are tenacious in their desire to be successful

While I believe A.Q. plays a major role in predicting success and staying power in organizations, I also believe good leaders tend to have great E.Q. and I.Q. as well. A good I.Q. standing allows a person to learn facts and processes quickly, with a good E.Q. permitting a person to stay calm and level-headed in tense or high-stress situations. However, A.Q. will round a person out and will demonstrate its usefulness of resiliency and tenacity in times of great challenges to the individual and their organization.

So, all that reflection and thoughts of dealing with adversity led me to thinking about a blog post I wrote about a year ago concerning duality and life’s challenges.

I wrote:  Our journey through life is complex. Humankind has a confusing nature that is both psychological and intuitive; further compounded by numerous other influences both internal and external. As I reflect on life and the duality of humans, I find myself being torn but comfortable with two states of being: the sunrise and the tempest; a new day dawning and the fury of a storm. So, is the duality of man/woman the need to destroy him/herself to save him/herself. Furthermore, in order for peace and serenity to flourish must one prepare for war and discord?

I liken it to Ironman triathlon racing. Like life, you prepare for the worse and hope for the best. "Ironman will throw you a curve. No matter how much or how hard you train, strategize and study the course or how prepared you are, you will be challenged with difficult circumstances that you could not have foreseen; but, you will rise to the occasion and preserve or cower and succumb to failure". - Joe Yorio 2004

The choice is yours and yours alone. You can curl up in self-pity and doubt and play the blame game by what if-ing yourself or blaming others. Or you can focus on amplifying what was successful, improve on shortcomings, embrace friends, ignore haters and prepare for the next challenge and opportunity to evolve to an improved version of “You” by believing in yourself, living by your own accord and defying negativity. You can use adversity as an excuse or a motivator. The choice is yours and yours alone.

Oh, and you don’t get to blame it on anyone but yourself if you choose wrong. Just be fierce and embrace the challenge!

“If we never experience the chill of a dark winter, it is very unlikely that we will ever cherish the warmth of a bright summer’s day. Nothing stimulates our appetite for the simple joys of life more than the starvation caused by sadness or desperation. In order to complete our amazing life journey successfully, it is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom and find the  blessing in every curse.”   ― Anthon St. Maarten

The higher a leader’s A.Q. is, the better the chances are of his or her success in a tough situation. Leaders who get back up quickly after facing defeat or failure are some of the organization’s most valuable assets.

Lead With Action!

Joe