Because we all need a win sometime.

I read an amazing article the other day for Business on the Frontlines.  It’s titled “On Solitude and Leadership”, a speech given to a graduating class of officers at West Point.  You can find the transcript here: http://www.theamericanscholar.org/solitude-and-leadership/ .  The key points of the speech focus on how our drive i America to become ‘better’ in our education may actually be driving away the creativity and brilliance that made past generations so successful.  The lack of failure, the drive for continuing success, these are all attributes that the current generation has – an unending string of ‘have dones’, instead of a series of lessons from mistakes and experiences.  While it might be that some people are just learning from the past, it’s all too often that instead of reaching out, new students are just building their boxes bigger – and never straying to take a big risk.

This lack of risk and rise in conservative thinking might be a serious indicator for the way we work and innovate in the future.  While he goes on about the implications, he also begins to talk about another social reason this generation is lacking: a fear of being alone.  His point is that American society has trained our future generations to be together constantly, to be supported and taught.  The problem with this, is that true leadership, requires an understanding of being truly alone.  In order for somebody to stand out, for a person to arise as a leader, they must make choices that cannot be made with others.  In this respect, they must be able to handle being alone, being under the scrutiny that occurs when you are remarkably different from all those around you.  This, is the hardest part of true leadership, and the one that he feels future generations are least ready to handle.

But, there is a place for friends and family in all this.  Being able to live with people is another facet of leadership, and that is something that is happening much more easily these days than before.  Children and teens are being taught in larger and more friendly group settings, and grow up knowing better how to get along with each other.  It’s the times when we don’t get along that are becoming worrisome.

I felt this was a fascinating article.  I know very deeply the pain and uncertainty that comes with being alone, with being somebody who people are looking to to make a final decision.  I also have wanted a support system to encourage and make me feel more confident in my decisions.  But, the fact of the matter remains – I must make my own decisions, and live with the consequences these choices have

For leadership, it seems that it’s not about the number of friends or where they work – but instead, about how you can handle the ambiguity of being in the spotlight, and having to work within very tight boundaries.  Those who can perform when the heat is on – those people are the true leaders.