In the lasts post, I defined the six Leadership Conditions. Each of these conditions exists as an opportunity for Leadership to emerge. As you think of events in your life, you’ll find that most fit into one or possible multiple conditions.  Perhaps a new software application was being introduced on your team. Possible or most likely someone stepped up whether appointed or simply as a response to hearing the call for Leadership.  Maybe they were appointed because of their subject matter expertise. Whatever the reason, a Leadership Condition existed and someone stepped into the role. This post is about the first Leadership Condition, Adversity.

Adversity is likely the most obvious yet arguable the most powerful. When I say powerful, it may call the Leader forth with greater demand than some of the other conditions. That is not to say it is any more or less relevant. The conditions do not exist on a scale of importance. In the last post, I defined Adversity.

Adversity is when an obstacle prevents forward motion toward goal completion. As adversity presents itself the Leader will identify this as an opportunity and use her skill to navigate the team or organization to smoother currents.

Adversity usually forces the team to a crossroads. That is to either progress with looming consequence or alter course with uncertain risk. Someone is bound to make a decision. That someone is typically the Leader.

At the time of this post, we are in the midst of a global economic crisis. Countries are losing their bond ratings. States are facing pending bankruptcy. Companies are laying off employees. In America, like many countries, we are witnessing some of our highest unemployment figures in decades. Housing is still struggling to rebound from its bottom. All of this is a clear indication of Adversity. We all are faced with the need to make a decision about our path because its current trajectory would seemingly place us in a condition of unfortunate consequence. Legislators are making laws. Governors are streamlining operating budgets. CEOs are reorganizing corporate structure. Effectively or not, people are elevating their Leadership posture and taking action.

Adversity doesn’t have to be as complex as I just stated. It can sometimes be a subtle annoyance that derails progress. I had been doing some work with an organization in the food industry. While I was conducting a needs assessment, the manager of this particular facility had just received a phone call. The day for him was already stressful having me there. Despite that, we had broken the ice and he was now pretty comfortable with my presence. He settled into the knowledge that I was there to help him and his team. Then the phone call changed his demeanor. He went from “I may go out for a drink with this guy” to “the world is ending” in an instant. Turns out, the health inspector was in the store to follow up on an infraction he had noted from an earlier inspection.

There were two Adverse Conditions that existed for that manager. First was my intrusion. Initially, that is how he saw it. I was an outsider there to threaten how he managed his store. At least that was probably his first impressions. Then the arrival of the health inspector bought the level of Adversity up another notch. To his credit, he acted. He handled his business with me. Providing more than enough assistance to prevent me from getting in his way or his employee’s way any more than was necessary. Next, he handled the health inspector as did many of his department heads as well. Adversity arrived and a Leader emerged.

Both examples demonstrate different levels of Adversity but both prove that a call to Leadership is eminent. Now that is not to say that the Leader who answers will do so with precision, accuracy, and competence. Nonetheless someone will step up typically to assume responsibility.  Competence is something we will discuss in a future post.  Think of times when you witnessed adversity.

• What was the Adverse Condition?
• Did you step up or someone else?
• Was the nominee the apparent person to handle or did someone move out of their comfort zone to assume a Leadership role?
• Was the Leader expected to take action?
• Did the team nominate him for the role?
• Did the organizational leadership select her for the role?

The advantage of knowing that adversity exists or is looming gives you an opportunity to position yourself to handle this condition and Lead your team to success.

You can follow me on Twitter @TerrenceWing or @LiquidLearn