If there is anything I’ve learned in leadership over thelast two decades, it’s this:

Calm waters don’t make great sailors.
Easy seasons don’t produce great leaders.
Adversity is the classroom that trains the leader.

Anyone can appear competent when everything is functioningperfectly — when systems are in order, money is flowing, customers are happy,staff are motivated, your vision is popular, and you feel supported.

But leadership is not proven on sunny days.
Leadership is proven when the storm hits.

It is proven when the economy shakes.
When systems collapse.
When the team feels discouraged.
When unexpected problems hit your operation from all corners.
When the people you’re leading look to you with fear in their eyes and ask,“What do we do next?”

Adversity doesn’t just challenge leadership.
Adversity reveals leadership.