Bend it Like a Leader: How to Flex Without Folding

Two Monks on a Motorcycle: Corporate Zen Stories

Day 16

As part of my lifelong learning journey, I joined an Executive Business Program at a top Business School, where my classmates were seasoned CXOs from various industries. Despite our collective experience, a recent situation made me question the leadership mindset of some of my peers.

One of our professors scheduled a proctored exam, but due to an important work commitment, I, along with a few others, couldn’t attend. Recognizing the challenges of managing full-time careers alongside studies, the professor offered an alternative: evaluate our performance through class participation and project submissions. This flexibility was welcomed by most, but a few who took the exam strongly opposed this approach.

I couldn’t help but ponder on how would these leaders handle similar situations at their own workplaces. Do they value flexibility and adaptability, or do they cling to rigid processes at the expense of team harmony? This resistance to a fair, alternative evaluation method seemed to reveal a mindset that could foster dysfunction in teams.

Flexibility, especially in leadership, is not a sign of weakness but of strength. It shows the ability to navigate complexities and adapt when unforeseen circumstances arise, which is a crucial skill in today’s fast-paced business environment. A leader's capacity to shift gears and embrace alternative solutions can often be the difference between success and stagnation.

In this case, the resistance to an alternative evaluation method mirrored the kind of rigidity that can stifle innovation and collaboration in the workplace. When leaders prioritize process over people, they risk losing sight of the very purpose behind those processes—enabling growth, progress, and collective success. True leadership is about fostering an environment where flexibility and fairness coexist, ensuring that every team member has a path to success, even when the road isn’t straight.

This experience has reminded me that as leaders, we must champion adaptability, not just for ourselves but for those we lead, encouraging a mindset that values resilience over rigidity.