Be brave to be curious to be determined

By Liz Bywater, Ph.D.

I've recently started reading Stephen Hawking Brief answers to major questions.

I am struck by the brilliance, the determination and the flawless optimism of this man. Reached early in his young life of a debilitating and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease, with a prognosis of only two years to live, the man may have become the most known scientist of our time. He lived a rich, complex and fulfilling life, raised three children and contributed to an extraordinary understanding of the world of cosmology and physics. He has retained his sense of humor and his commitment to making the world a better place.

The last line of Hawking's introduction reads as follows: Be courageous, be curious, be determined, overcome obstacles. It can be done. So I ask you: why do you feel brave and what are you most determined to achieve? How will you inspire your employees, colleagues, partners and customers to join your courageous quest for knowledge, find solutions to today's most pressing issues and create a company that leads the way?

Start with this:

1. Ask the right (meaningful) questions. If you have followed my recent columns or read my book, you know that I advise my clients to slow down to be thoughtful, strategic and deliberate. This makes them better leaders and helps them dramatically improve their performance. But it's not as simple as just slowing down. The question here is not, Am I slowing down or speeding up? It's actually, When should I slow down (and why) and when should I accelerate (and how)? Take a break to think about the right questions (they must be nuanced, evocative, substantial) and engage people around you to find the answers.
2. Define your vision. Yes I know. You already have a convincing vision. You shared it with your organization. You sent it to the market. This is good news. Now, do it again. And change it if you need it. Even if your current vision is bold, innovative, looking to the future, revisit it anyway. Ask yourself and your key stakeholders what: Does the current vision stand up to the evolution of the industry? Does this pave the way for an extraordinary future (in which we stimulate innovation, thrive, not just hold on)? If your vision requires a change, big or small, change it today.
3. Be clear about the obstacles. Stephen Hawking never put his head in the sand. He recognized the harsh realities of his condition. He knew that he was facing severe limitations. His symptoms would worsen and the illness would kill him. To survive and prosper, he had to accept his circumstances, pivot and adapt, but he would never give in to despair.
4. Stay optimistic, even (especially) face the challenges. Think of Hawking's remarkable hope. Not a naive man, he simply refused to let his devastating illness deprive him of a rewarding and rewarding life. He then lived decades beyond what was planned, bringing to the world extraordinary scientific discoveries, three healthy children and a daunting challenge:

Be courageous, be curious, be determined, overcome obstacles. It can be done.

_______________________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Dr. Liz on Leadership. Each month I will share new ideas, tools and tips to help you excel in the ever-changing healthcare environment. Let me know what you are most concerned about and I will answer your most pressing questions in the next chapters. contact me at [email protected].

For additional tools and thought leadership, visit my website, www.lizbywater.com. And do not forget to take your copy of Slow down to accelerate: lead, succeed and thrive in a world open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!