In the all-digital age, we are asked to be more agile, faster, more adaptable. We’re asked to know the latest techno du jour – ChatGPT, these days – under the threat of “missing the boat.” Companies are demanded to deliver a “frictionless” customer experience – without even batting an eye, as if real life were devoid of it. But we rarely hear about “patience” as a virtue to cultivate in these uncertain times. And yet…
In 2014, management researchers Debra R. Comer, of Hofstra University, and Leslie E. Sekerka of Menlo College published a very interesting thesis on patience, arguing that this virtue receives very little credit in the Western world.
Today’s highly volatile workplaces, where the demand for immediacy is pervasive, particularly undermine this virtue, the authors write. Conventional wisdom seems to suggest that patience delays the achievement of goals and that a patient person gives up being competitive. People who live with a ‘winner takes all’ mindset may consider it unwise, if not absurd, to pause to consider the needs of others.”
Too often, patience is mistaken for immobility, lethargy or lack of courage to make an important decision and act. In many situations, it may be a matter of allowing an experience or decision to mature.
Also, patience is not limited to the notion of “taking it easy”.
Ethicists and moral psychologists have begun to give more consideration to patience. These researchers argue that patience is more than the ability to postpone gratification, and that its applications can take on a moral dimension when other people are involved. Patient individuals understand that their time is not worth more than that of others.”
In the same paper, the researcher makes the case that organizations can benefit greatly from cultivating patience:
- developing quality products and services – because one has had the patience to bring the project to maturity,
- ensure sustainability – because decisions are made over the long term
- increase productivity – because employees are more attentive to each other
- Maintain ethical behaviors – because there is no pressure from management to cut corners.
Having the patience to recognize the needs and perspectives of others can facilitate intergroup relationships in organizations with diverse demographics. It can also fuel creativity by allowing intrinsically motivated people to generate ideas that are not only new, but also useful to others,” they say.
A virtue that can be cultivated
Can patience be learned, or is it a moral quality that one is born with? The question arises. But it seems that this trait can be developed. This is suggested by a 2012 study, in which students underwent a program to build patience, through meditation sessions and teaching self-control techniques.
The program resulted in increased patience, decreased depression, and more positive affect toward feeling in control, suggesting that patience can be modified.”
In general, patience is strongly correlated with personal well-being. So if you take care of yourself, your physical and mental health, you feel more patient.
Finally, the French Institute of Positive Leadership website suggests three very concrete ways to cultivate patience on a daily basis:
- Revisit the situation: your colleague is late for a meeting, instead of railing against his or her disrespect, choose to use this time as a good opportunity to read an article or review your notes.
- Practice mindfulness: when anger rises, take a deep breath and observe the emotions that come over you without judging them.
- Show gratitude: practice regularly by expressing gratitude for what you have today, you will be less frustrated by the urge to get more and better immediately.
Let’s put the third tip into practice right now… by showing gratitude for receiving such valuable advice!
