Overcoming Adversity: Suffering as a Capacity Builder for Strategic Leaders
Abstract
As Thucydides so aptly stated in the Melian Dialogue: The strong do what they will, while the weak suffer what they must. What is it about suffering that bears within it the capacity to forge elements of greatness or to ground down to nothing the little we thought we possessed? In what ways does suffering serve as a capacity builder for strategic leaders? Are leaders better for having sacrificed and suffered? What is the relationship between overcoming adversity and the resilient leader? This paper examines several major themes: first, the nature of suffering and its relationship to resilient leadership; second, the dynamic process of suffering and growth; third, Ulysses S. Grant: a military and civilian leader who suffered and failed miserably, but later recovered to lead the Union Army to victory in the Civil War; and, finally, the lessons learned from suffering for strategic, resilient leaders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA562081
Entities
People
- Joseph V. Sheldon Iii
Organizations
- United States Army War College