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The Power of Adversity Surviving through Challenging Times

By Suzanne Bates

There is tremendous power in facing adversity. Harness the power, and you will survive and thrive through challenging times.

We have only two choices. We can shrink from adversity or we can face it and seize opportunity. We can succumb to the negativity or we can take control of what we can. We can decide we're just going to have to ride out the storm or we can lead our companies through crisis.

If you've been through any kind of personal crisis, think about it. What did you learn? How do those lessons apply? Look at your life and draw on those lessons so you can share them with your team. Determine that you will show people by example how they can survive adversity.

I am a true believer in the power of the story to motivate and inspire. Stories of our lives, our friends, our families and our businesses reveal powerful lessons that will guide us through rough times.

One of the most powerful things you can do right now is to think about how you have faced adversity and share that with others.

Think about a crisis you've faced.

Answer these questions right now:

• What was the situation prior to the crisis? What was going on in your life, your family, your business?
• What created the turmoil and what did it do to your life at that time?
• How did you make it through this difficult time?
• What was different about the way you handled it? Was it a way of thinking? Was it action? Or both?
• How did things turn out?
• What did you learn from it?
• How do the lessons apply?

By looking at this lesson, you can see the power of adversity in shaping you. Much of who you are today is because of how you have faced and dealt with adversity.

Likewise, your company will be shaped now by how you face adversity as an organization.

The first step is to get people thinking and talking about the power of adversity.

So, ask yourself, "Is this a story I can share with my team?"

If so, when will you do it, in what forum, and how will you take the positive momentum that comes from sharing such a story and move people?

As a leader it is your job to move the organization forward, no matter what you face. Sharing a story like this in any forum, whether a meeting, a blog, or an email, could be a perfect way to get people to remember how they have also faced adversity and overcome challenges.

Here's another idea:

Have members of your team share stories of how they have coped with adversity.

I'll bet you'll find similar themes. What a bonding experience for everyone. They will leave your meeting feeling uplifted, ready to face the challenges ahead.

I quoted Anne Dudley Bradstreet above, a poet from the 15th Century who lived and died here in New England, in Andover, MA.

Just thought you'd like to know her story:

Bradstreet and her family emigrated to America in 1630 on the Arabella, one of the first ships to bring Puritans to New England in hopes of setting up plantation colonies.

The journey was difficult; many died during the three month journey, unable to cope with the harsh climate and poor living conditions. Sea squalls rocked the vessel, and scurvy brought on by malnutrition claimed their lives.

Anne, who was a well educated girl, tutored in history, several languages and literature, was ill prepared for such rigorous travel, and would find the journey very difficult.

But she survived and began writing poetry. Her works were kept private though, as it was frowned upon for women to pursue intellectual enlightenment. However, they would not remain unnoticed... Her brother-in-law had secretly copied Anne's work, and would later bring it to England to have it published.

"The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts", was published in 1650.