"Aggressively patient"

This was the best term I heard in 2008.  It came from Bob Willard – a renowned expert on the business case for sustainability.  I first heard this while participating in a sustainability leadership training program called LEAD (Leadership in Environment and Development) in Toronto this past summer.  In trying to make our communities, businesses and organizations more sustainable, this is a quality we need to have – aggressive patience. 

What does this term mean?  In my view, it’s about staying the course and not getting easily flustered when things don’t go exactly as planned.  It’s about being vigilant and being ready to seize opportunities when they arise.  It’s about constantly reading the situation to understand the context you are working in.

In many ways, “aggressively patient” captures the dichotomy of trying to work towards a more sustainable future.  Think of the fable about the tortoise and the hare.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  In many instances, that’s the case, but here’s the trouble – many of our organizations, communities and businesses are slow to change. Understanding the drivers for change within a context will allow you to be patient and make meaningful change happen.  The approach to change is often like the tortoise. 

The problem is, many of the issues we face – such as climate change – are moving at the speed of the hare.  Unlike the hare, however, these issues are not stopping for a nap.  In the climate change example, the speed of the hare is moving faster than the world's most acclaimed climate scientists predicted. 

That’s why I love the term “aggressively patient.” It represents the most impressive qualities of both characters in the story - the patience and determination of the tortoise with the aggressiveness of the hare.  We need more people that have this quality if we’re going to effectively tackle issues of sustainability. 

Do you have the ability to be aggressively patient?

- John, February 16, 2009

Labels: change, sustainability

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