The Character of Flexibility

Character Leadership - The Character of Flexibility

“New ideas stir from every corner. The show up disguised innocently as interruptions, contradictions and embarrassing dilemmas. Beware of total strangers and friends alike who shower you with comfortable sameness, and remain open to those who make you uneasy, for they are the true messengers of the future.” – Rob Lebow

 

Definition:  The ability to change or be changed according to circumstances without compromising the right values.

Inflexibility, Stubbornness, Arduousness, Conceit, and Self-Importance are the opposites of flexibility. People with these negative traits are steeped in pride as they see themselves as the center to everything around the. Therefore, they base all of our decisions on our needs and feelings, ignoring others, not seeing the big picture or being accommodating in order to make the right decisions and go in the right directions.  Being stubborn used to be a compliment a couple of generations back when someone remained true to their principles and convictions, regardless of the opinion of others. However, now, being stubborn refers to a person who refuses to listen or follow reason or logic.

The character of flexibility opens up to the plans and ideas of others, and willing to be instructed and challenged to change for the better for the better of relationships and work improvements. This character will help us see the big picture, how people and events are all interlinked. One of the biggest reasons why relationships and businesses fail is because people do not want to adapt to changes but remain stubborn in their opinion. They refuse to open up and listen to suggestions by others.

Reflection:

Ask yourself; “What are the issue is my life that would improve with more flexibility?” Stubborn means “to be stiff and fixed in one position.” If we refuse to bend we sometimes break and we come to grieve. When we get upset and throw tantrums when things are not as we expected, we have not learnt to be flexible. We must exercise patience and self-control with flexibility.

As Character leaders, we must extend ourselves to other people with flexibility and what flows out of flexibility are fresh insights and wise council from others. To be flexible is to look for the good in some things that did not turn out the way we want. By looking for the good in something rather than the worst, a flexible person usually finds it. Flexibility must not be used as an excuse to follow even though we know it is wrong. It does not mean that if we are following orders we can ignore being right.