jamesridgers

Risky Business

I spent last week in Washington DC, attending a series of seminars on risk management, and how to negotiate your way through and around high risk events during a project lifecycle.

During a couple of the seminars, opportunity was given to discuss real world scenarios with fellow attendees. It struck me quickly how afraid many people are of confronting risks and making decisions to address them.

What stood out to me in particular is how people view risks. Many people review risks as a threat. To many people, a risk is a bad thing; something to be mitigated or eliminated. Even when the potential risk event could have a positive impact, people can be indecisive on a course of action.

Nobody ever made history by not taking risks. Sir Edmund Hilary wouldn’t have conquered Everest had he not met that risky endeavour with planning and determination. Christopher Columbus wouldn’t have discovered the new world had he not recognized the inherent risk of the voyage and met it with optimism. Neil Armstrong wouldn’t have left his footprint on the moon had he not had full confidence in his ability and the ability of his team to overcome the risk inherent in spaceflight.

If we want to leave a legacy of effective leadership and be certain that we made a difference, we should stop viewing risks purely as a threat, and start viewing them purely as an opportunity to show greatness, courage, and determination. This doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind. It’s a call for wisdom and discernment and strength in overcoming incredible odds. After all, leadership itself is a risky business.