Gratitude Filled Leadership: Vigor

The word “vigor” is used by leadership to encourage greater results. It has been over- used the last several years and generally ballyhooed because most leaders are vigorous and ask for the same intensity out of their charges on a regular basis

What words come to mind when you see “vigor”? Intensity, more power, more force, more concentration, working harder, challenging more? I would like to take vigor and substitute a more broad ranging word: “youth”. A more youthful approach to your tasks. Why youth? Samuel Ullman beautifully describes the essence of youth.

“Youth is not necessarily a time of life - it is a state of mind. It is not a matter of red cheeks, red lips, or supple knees. It is a temper of the will; a quality of the imagination; a vigor of the emotions; it is a freshness in the deep springs of life. Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over a life of ease. These often exist in a man or woman of sixty, more than man or woman of twenty. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years, people grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope and as old as your despair.”

I believe what he says about “deserting your ideals” is crucial to not losing your fresh approach to leading today’s workforce. We cannot lose our enthusiasm, amazement with new technologies and a childlike excitement for what lies around every inviting corner.

In the central place in your heart there is a wi-fi router. So long as it receives five bar signals of beauty, hope, cheer, courage, and power from the airways and the Infinite - so long are you young, and able to bring youth to your leadership methods.

Which leaders motivate you? The leader who says “we need more vigor in our people” or one who approaches the journey ahead with courage, imagination, adventure, and enthusiasm? I know who I would follow, and gladly be their wingman. I smile when I think of those who have led me with their youthful approach to every aspect of life. They are “glad to be here” and always show gratitude filled leadership. Can we all lead with a youthful approach? Sure, but it requires some quiet introspection to bring those positive qualities of life to a center stage position. I’m all in for this life approach. Are you?