To me, the definition of intellectual perseverance can be boiled
down to sticking with intellectual insights and truths in all circumstances,
being ready to maintain rationality in the face of irrational opposition, and
being willing to not settle but rather continue working through any confusion
and tough questions to reach deeper insights. To expound, through fresh through
processes or the introduction of new information, one may come upon new
intellectual insights, or rediscover a truth that’s relevant to their
circumstances. Although others may be insistent on sticking to a particular
point of view no matter how irrational, the persevering person must be willing
to stand by their truths and insights. One might compare this to instances in
history when a very firmly established status quo was disturbed by new, logical
insights. Examples can include the idea of a heliocentric system of planets as
championed by Copernicus and Galileo in a time when the world still largely held
an Earth centered view of space.
Additionally, a person may also be faced with truths presented to
them that are difficult to easily comprehend or integrate into their thinking. Trying
new leadership methods or learning an entirely new field of study is not easy
and requires work from the outset. To truly understand a concept and know it
from every direction requires one to maintain the will to ask questions, and to
keep digging for answers to those very questions.
I think this type
of perseverance, as well as perseverance in general, will prove important as
the very nature of pursuing studies in leadership demands the mental
flexibility to consider different perspectives, think through new ideas, and
perhaps take a long hard look at whether or not my version of "business as
usual" is the best thing I can do for my leadership development. It isn't
necessarily comfortable or fun to put in the work to gain that kind of
understanding. But the potential benefits are certainly there, and worth
pursuing. Perhaps by building a bit of mental fortitude and maintaining a
measure of solid discipline, I will be better able to add to my leadership
toolkit, be better able to consider different courses of actions, and upend
some of the appeals to tradition that tend to circulate around the office if
circumstances don’t demand otherwise.
Thinking about my
concept of a leader, I think intellectual perseverance would act as a major
fixture, for I consider a good leader to be someone that can craft or select a
sensible course of action, and have both the fortitude to stand by their
decision if it was a truly reasonable decision, and the courage to make
adjustments if the situation necessitates a change. Drawing another example from history, there were plenty of people in the military and in seats of power who thought that the airplane would never be a viable part of military doctrine. Despite risk to his career and much unfounded opposition, General Billy Mitchell continued to advocate for air power, and today many not only recognize the need for air superiority in a military operation, but day to day life in the world is enhanced by how much smaller the world becomes with routine flights moving people and commerce. This I think is also the way of the great leaders and the great innovators of our time...they were people that could find that next big idea, and run with it.
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