Patience

Leadership Qualities

Patience is too often overlooked as a leadership virtue, but outstandingly patient persons prove how valuable it can be to effective leaders. Leaders require patience because they deal with people, not machines.  Unlike machines, people have many quirks.  People are reluctant to change.  It takes patience to effectively work with people and accomplish the organization’s goals and objectives. Although there are appropriate times to be impatient and push an agenda, the astute leader knows that patience is very often his or her secret weapon in getting things done.

Patient leaders understand that having a purpose and sticking to it is essential for a meaningful change. They are open to change and understand the value in being accessible. Tolerant leaders know that intolerance stunts growth, while tolerance powers it. Patient leaders are independent and straightforward, cool and self-assured without being cocky and conceited.

Patience is not one-dimensional, but has several facets. Patience can be categorized into three competencies, ie., perspective, politics and persistence (3P’s). Perspective allows the leader to choose his battles and ultimately win the war, knowing that losing some battles is acceptable.  When he maintains his perspective, he can see the big picture and not get caught up in the small stuff.

Being attuned to the politics of the organization is the second essential facet of patience.  The successful leader must have a sense of the political environment in which he operates, and use good judgment in timing. A good leader will wait for the right time to make a proposal and use that timing to his advantage.

Persistence is the most important characteristic of patience.   Persistence is a great quality and one that we should all look to nurture. The ability to hold on or to get back up after we have been knocked down is essential for us to achieve any real success, because there will be failures along the way and it is how we deal with these failures that will determine the outcome of any endeavour that we undertake.

By gaining and maintaining the perspective of the job and the organization, by understanding the political climate, and by persisting with passion, the leader can practice and perfect his patience. Seeing patience succeed in the long run will be the best reward for his efforts.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

நிறையுடைமை நீங்காமை வேண்டின் பொறையுடைமை

போற்றி யொழுகப் படும். (154)

अगर सर्व-गुण-पूर्णता, तुमको छोड़ न जाय ।
क्षमा-भाव का आचरण, किया लगन से जाय ॥ (१५४)

Explanation by Scholars

If you desire that greatness should never leave, you preserve in your conduct the exercise of patience.

பொறுமையின் உறைவிடமாக இருப்பவரைத் தான் நிறைவான மனிதர் என்று உலகம் புகழும்.

Kural says

மிகுதியான் மிக்கவை செய்தாரைத் தாந்தம்

தகுதியான் வென்று விடல். (158)

अहंकार से ज़्यादती, यदि तेरे विपरीत ।
करता कोई तो उसे, क्षमा-भाव से जीत ॥ (१५८)

Explanation by Scholars

Let a man by patience overcome those who through pride commit excesses.

ஆணவங் கொண்டு அநீதி விளைவிப்பவர்களை, நாம் நம் பொறுமைக் குணத்தால் வென்று விடலாம்.