Smooth Seas Don't Train Great Sailors

This week I am reflecting on a proverb that has shaped my understanding of leadership development: "Smooth seas don't train great sailors."

Looking back on my career, the periods of greatest growth weren't during comfortable, predictable times. They came when navigating choppy waters, making difficult decisions with incomplete information or imperfect context, and steering through unexpected storms.

What we often call 'challenges' in our professional lives are actually the most powerful training grounds. The easy path might be comfortable, but rarely builds the experience, adaptability and creative thinking that define exceptional leadership. The 2023 Global Leadership Development Study by Harvard Business Publishing reinforces this, highlighting that "68% of respondents expect the ability of all leaders to not just endure but embrace ambiguity and uncertainty to rise in importance."

This resonates deeply with my experience leading teams through periods of significant change. It's precisely when plans falter and uncertainty looms that we discover capacities we didn't know we possessed or build new “muscle”.

Consider your own journey: Which experiences shaped you most profoundly? I'd wager they weren't the smooth sailing moments, but rather when you had to draw on your deepest reserves of courage and capability.

Are you currently seeking calm waters, or are you willing to embrace the storms that will transform you into a more seasoned leader?