Overcome or Overcoming

In his 19th century novella, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde,” Robert Louis Stevenson writes of the dichotomy of the human

character. It is quite an interesting story from which leaders can glean

valuable insights regarding the importance of always revealing the better

parts of themselves in the leadership arena.

We all have some bad or not so good parts given life’s troublesome

circumstances and their negative influences and infusion in our minds.

These negative parts can cause a leader to change in an instant like one

who struggles with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a unique

mental challenge with some serious consequences.

What is just as uniquely challenging and serious in the leadership

arena? I call it the Jekyll and Hyde effect. Sadly, this effect means that a

leader shows little or no sign of self-control and worse yet he or she is

not leading but being led. People working under leaders battling with this

effect and showing no self-control never know who they are going to

encounter from one minute to the next. There are treatments for those

who struggle with IED, but what care is available for leaders battling with

the Jekyll and Hyde effect? It is called self-care. 

Relative to the Jekyll and Hyde effect, self “care” is a deliberate act

where one considers and chooses to “consider, analyze, revise, and

employ” a new approach. Consider this, instead of seeking to win the

battle over what is not so good giving all their attention to their bad parts,

authentic leaders focus on giving the good parts of themselves in every

circumstance or situation life affords. When one focuses on and serves

the good parts of themselves the bad parts most always shrivel away.

Authentic leaders will not be overcome by the bad parts but will

overcome the bad parts with the good parts of themselves. So, to use

some familiar words, “to be overcome or to overcome; that is the real

question?” What’s your answer?