The tale of the Tree and the Reed in the age of resilience - part 1
Michael Swinsburg
Executive Search and Leadership Advisory - Managing Partner and Non Executive Director
Lessons from this Aesop’s Fables may help us survive, revive and thrive beyond this great tempest.
Since my April article 'loss grief and leadership' I've had plenty of feedback and decided to reflect more on what many are calling ‘resilience’. With Melbourne in a stage 4 lockdown, it is time to review this overused, perhaps misunderstood, critical human skill and how we can further develop it. This paper is in three parts. Part 1- the Tree’s point of view and the assumptions often associated with resilience. Part 2 - the Reed’s point of view, its use of adaptability, and how leaders can assist their teams’ resilience and adaptability.
Part I - The fable of the Tree and the Reed
The fable[i] deals with the contrasting behaviour of a large tree, which trusts in its strength to withstand the tempest being eventually blown over, while the reed that bends with the wind survives the flood. Many cultures have similar proverbs; the Chinese proverb 'A tree that is unbending is easily broken' and the Jewish Talmud (Taanit 20b), says ‘A person should be pliable like a reed, not hard like a cedar.’ [ii] Most scholars see the lesson as a test of strength, toughness, and even pride, versus humility, endurance and patience, offering advice on how to survive in turbulent times.
The mighty Tree’s POV
Resilience, derived from resile, the ‘ability to recover quickly to the original shape after a shock’.[iii] We often refer to resilience in terms of toughness and firmness in the face of adversity. This view of resilience assumes: a limited tempest; that falling back to ‘the original shape’ or the old normal is preferred; and, that we are somehow lesser if we don’t have resilience reserves ready to deploy to ‘toughen up’. Let’s consider these assumptions.
A limited tempest? Scientists tell us that a safe, highly effective and universally available vaccine is most likely at least 12 - 18 months away. Early vaccines may not be fully effective so the current health precautions may continue for some time as vaccine development continues.[iv] Meanwhile the economic effects, as measured by employment recovering to pre-crisis levels, are estimated by Deloitte Economics to go out to 2023 and beyond.[v] We may need to be resilient for a longer tempest.
Going back to the old normal? Australians are globetrotters and while some maybe dreaming of a long overseas flight, many have no interest in rushing back to the office commutes even when a safe and fully effective vaccine is available. Others will be rushing back to socialise with their colleagues. While Zoom fatigue is setting in many are appreciating the unexpected gift that has arrived – an epiphany that we don’t need so many business trips. The ‘genie out of the bottle’ - workplace flexibility is finally a non-issue.
At a societal level, many are asking what we want to change? To not do this would be to: disrespect the loss of those that have passed early isolated from their family; continue to devalue our already undervalued essential workers; and, forget our grief for the huge economic and mental health impact to families and lost youth opportunities. As the supposed ‘lucky country’, Covid 19 has exposed the fragility of our health, disability and aged care systems, our over-casualised workforce, and the inequity of our income support systems. Does resilience really mean we should simply return to our ‘original shape’?
I was recently reminded of an old expression that could sum up this crisis for many: ‘sometimes the best gifts come poorly wrapped.‘
Resilience as a learned skill or reservoir – we all start from different bases upon which we have accumulated our reserves of resilience based on our own life experience. Those from a fortunate background may have had less hardship from which to build resilience skills. Equally those that may have been through great adversity may have built up but could have equally depleted their reserves. Psychology Today [vi] reminds us that we can build our resilience reserves by developing good support networks, increasing self-care, understanding what we can control, setting some new challenges, and finding our purpose.
Resilience alone is not going optimise our ability to survive, revive and thrive this great tempest. In part 2 look at the Reeds’ experience and building resilient and adaptable teams. Until next time stay well.
[i] https://fablesofaesop.com/the-tree-and-the-reed.html
[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oak_and_the_Reed
[iii] https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/resilience
[iv] https://theconversation.com/creating-a-covid-19-vaccine-is-only-the-first-step-itll-take-years-to-manufacture-and-distribute-144352 https://www.bcg.com/en-au/publications/2020/covid-vaccines-timelines-implications
Thanks for sharing the perspective Michael Great reflections. Keep well
Independent Trustee and Director
4 年Thanks Michael a very thought provoking article. Like others the quote that sometimes the best gifts come poorly wrapped resonated with me. Whilst I like to consider myself having offered flexibility in the workplace I have learnt that I could have done more.
Head Of AmpolCard & B2B Offers @ Ampol | Fuel Card Portfolio
4 年Really thought provoking article Michael Swinsburg - and thank you for kick-starting the discussion. After being tipped out of my last role after 12 years - I was sometimes annoyed, less often angry, but mostly excited at what might lay ahead. I was fortunate to lean into a similar experience in the early 2000s - and drawing on that experience, and my learnings has made dealing with the uncertainty of "where to next" so much easier. In those early 2000s - exiting a major bank opened up so many new and exciting doors. Being approached by Ian Matheson (once deputy MD of #Westpac and 49 year WBC veteran ) and another 40 year WBC veteran Ray Bowker - began what has now been +16 year career in/around the Insurance industry - and led to the further accumulation of many life long friends. I could never have imagined that soon after joining Ian/Ray as their MD we would convince one of the worlds oldest insurance brokers #Aon (whose heritage dates back to 1677) to buy our niche credit card insurance broking co. Joining team #Aon exposed me to another group of talented individuals - then led by Peter Harmer (who has always been open to my approaches to discuss potential career opportunities )- and other long term Aon folk like Steve Lardner, Angie Zissis, Colin Hay and Jeff Smith. - My time at #Aon led to working alongside Steve Holt (career banker turned insurance broker who was so well regarded by one global bank that he had a permanent desk a few up from the Global CEO) on a card related project for one of the world's largest banks - and further reinforced the cross over opportunities across Banking and Insurance. I am so glad to be among a few folks that have spent an extended period of time on both sides of the Banking/Insurance fence. My time at #Aon further reinforced the power of collaboration across borders, and the power of advocating for your clients - and driving innovation. Fast forward to my time at St Andrew's. When I joined we were part of the David Willis led #HBOSA, before becoming the steak knives in #CBA's acquisition of #Bankwest following the last major crisis #GFC. Navigating the multiple owners of St Andrew's over my 12 years - #HBOSA, #CBA, #BOQ - and then multiple attempts to find a 4th owner - was resilience in practice!! Of course none of that would have been possible without an incredible support network, fantastic peers and my committed, passionate, and diverse team. What a great bunch. I'm so thrilled to see that many of them have landed gigs after the St Andrew's business was put into runoff. My first boss at St Andrew's was Renato Mazza - and I recall him presenting to my team in the earlier years outlining the power of embracing opportunities as they were presented to you. He was a great example of the flexible reed - prepared to pivot as one career door started to close and others opened. Never afraid to speak his mind respectfully, he was always someone we could count on to be in our corner in the seemingly endless mini battles with hierarchy. Now 17 years on from my banking career change, and exploring where next to make a difference - I am simply loving the opportunities that I am getting to explore. Sure its not ideal looking for your next gig in the middle of a global pandemic - but with that challenge (like 17 years ago) is coming immense personal growth and satisfaction. I am very lucky - I get to live my life with my darling wife Rhonnie Straney. Long term master trainer, Virgin Active world record holder, lecturer in health and fitness across Australia, and then in her early 40s (determined to bring to life her personal brand) she set herself the goal of competing on the world stage in natural bodybuilding - a 2 year project - later placing 9th in the world in NYC vs many women less than half her age. She later lived in NYC - and trained a number of movie stars preparing for their next role - helping transform their bodies, minds and hearts. Her resilience was then tested to the extreme - when stationary at a set of lights in Sydney she was rammed at 70kms an hour by a B double semi. Her small car was shunted 100m's across the busy Pennant Hills intersection. Later she had to learn to walk again - and sadly to had to battle the drivers insurer - who took 18 months to admit liability. This was all before I met my wife. Today she has is in a lot of pain - exacerbated by the fact that critical treatment was out of her financial means in those 18 months. It did however mean she got to spend an extended period of time with her dear old dad - former Kangaroo, Parramatta captain coach (Ron Boden) - in his last years. Amidst all of this pain - my wife soldiers on and has the most wonderful attitude to life - and is an absolute joy to be around. She totally personifies resilience - and is a daily inspiration to myself and those around her. Recently she started a new gig - and in her first two weeks - they are meeting targets every day. In week 1 - she sold 17 items to one person - a complete series of looks for this person. Where this road takes me is a work in progress - and I look forward to sharing the journey and insights at some future stage. Dealing with the trials and tribulations of the pandemic I always have Rhonnie's situation to reflect on - and that provides me with amazing strength. Thanks again for the post Michael Swinsburg - and for reminding us all the power of resilience and learnings on offer when you lean into the impending forks in the road.
Immediate Past President 2023/24 - Rotary Club of Sydney Cove
4 年Some gifts come poorly wrapped....indeed! Without denying the problems ahead and the terrible toll disproportionately borne by the underprivileged and elderly, the opportunities abound!
SDG Advocate
4 年Perhaps resilience is knowing when to bend and when to straighten up (whistleblowers?). Until we have a vaccine, it looks like we need to keep bending and looking out for each other.