Perseverance Makes Great Leaders

In Ultra Leadership, I tell the story of my climb up to Hope Pass, 12,600’ up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It was day two of the TransRockies Run. The climb to Hope Pass is a long, taxing part of the race that eventually leads to a majestic view. It is wonderful when you get there, but that’s the problem: getting there. It was the journey, pushing beyond the edge of what I thought my body was physically capable of doing, that reminded me of a lesson not only about living but about leadership as well. When we embrace discomfort, we step through fear into learning and growth.

As I continued my climb, I started an inner dialogue. I asked myself, “What do I have control over at this moment?” I knew I couldn’t turn back. I knew I couldn’t stop. There were no short cuts. I could only go forward. I had control of my breathing and of taking one step after another. That’s what I am going to do, I told myself, I’m going to breathe and step. As I was having this conversation with myself, a mantra took shape: Go to the edge. Push farther. Repeat. That is how I got to the top of Hope Pass. That’s how I approach my work.

The lesson I learned climbing Hope Pass was this: Perseverance is its own reward. Just as I had chosen to move forward to the edge of my physical ability in that ultra-marathon, in the workplace we must go to the edge of our competence and confidence and push beyond our comfort zones to achieve extraordinary results.

According to a study conducted by Harvard Business Review, 70% of organizations attribute their success to effective leadership, with perseverance being a cornerstone trait. Another study by Smith et al (2023) found that a staggering 87% of top-performing leaders attribute their success to the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Moreover, research by Gallup indicates that teams led by resilient leaders exhibit 21% greater profitability. These figures underscore a fundamental truth: In today’s organizations, where volatility is the norm and uncertainty reigns supreme, leadership without perseverance is akin to a ship without a compass.

Perseverance in leadership is about weathering the storms that inevitably arise, while steadfastly steering the ship towards its destination. It's about fostering a culture of resilience, where setbacks are viewed not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for growth. It's about instilling confidence in your team, even when the horizon seems obscured by dark clouds of doubt. Leaders who persevere in the face of challenges have the unique capacity to engage their teams on a profound level. Through their unwavering commitment to a shared vision, they instill a sense of purpose that transcends the day-to-day hurdles. This ability to connect with a broader narrative empowers employees, fostering a resilient and collaborative workplace culture.

Through the lens of perseverance, leaders can transform adversity into advantage, inspiring those around them to reach greater heights. Whether it's navigating through market disruptions, overcoming internal strife, or charting new territories, the ability to persevere distinguishes the exceptional leaders, “ultra” leaders, from the merely competent.

At GA | Ultra Leadership we engage leaders seeking to navigate and lead others through the turbulent seas of modern business. Whether coaching individual leaders, engaging teams on the path to higher performance, or developing collective capacity for resilience and perseverance, we empower leaders to go to the edge and push farther, enabling them to guide their teams towards success. Central to this ethos is the understanding that leadership is not merely about issuing directives, but rather about engaging and empowering people to shape their work and activating them to achieve their best.

To lead we must find a way to persevere — recognizing that stopping, turning back, or going around aren’t options. The only way is through.

Breathe and take a step. Go to the edge and push farther, over and over again.

About the Author

Dr. Greg Giuliano is an advisor and executive coach to senior executives and teams all over the world, designing change leadership and team development strategies to lead organizational transformation. His mission is to help leaders and teams grow their capacity to enable positive disruption for markets, organizations, teams, and individuals.

Greg is the author of the #1 Amazon Bestsellers The Next Normal, Ultra Leadership, and The Hero’s Journey: Toward a More Authentic Leadership.

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