Standing Alone
A week before the full-scale invasion, I found myself deeply reflecting on the competency of Standing Alone*.
I remember immersing myself in its description and development recommendations, savoring each insight. Now, I understand why. Intuition never fails.
The competency Standing Alone is part of the Dealing with Trouble cluster under the Courage subsection in the Korn Ferry Lominger Development Guide. The very fact that resilience in solitude (distinct from loneliness) is recognized as a standalone competency speaks volumes.
Here’s how Lominger describes it:
“Standing alone involves being comfortable with the conflict inherent with being an individual champion. It means staking out tough and lonely positions, speaking loudly as a lone voice, and taking the buffeting that comes with that. It requires a strong sense of self and a lot of self-confidence. Leading is, many times, standing alone.”
I translate this as Resilience in Solitude.
The Core of the Competency:
Standing tall and deflecting blows (resonating with Peterson's "Stand up straight with your shoulders back");
Taking full responsibility without diminishing it;
Being someone others can rely on;
Having the courage to face problems one-on-one;
Remaining composed while working in challenging environments.
Development Recommendations
Lominger provides actionable steps to strengthen this competency, along with a curated list of books and resources. The overarching themes include maintaining:
Common Sense: Balancing intuition with rationality.
Critical Thinking: Questioning assumptions and avoiding groupthink.
Composure: Managing emotions under pressure.
If you’re curious about the specific recommendations or resources, feel free to reach out — I’ll happily share them.
A Quote to Reflect On.
Lominger ends the section with a quote from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer:
“Even if I have to stand alone, I will not be afraid to stand alone.I am going to fight for you.I am going to fight for what is right.I am going to fight to hold people accountable.”
Why It Matters Today.
Developing and strengthening the competency of Standing Alone feels more urgent than ever.
Today, our ability to endure and navigate challenges may well depend on this very skill.
*Standing Alone is one of 67 competencies of For Your Improvement Guide by Korn Ferry.
Grab your full Standing Alone description here.
You can read more about the webinar I delivered on this topic (in Ukrainian)
by clicking the image below.
April 18, 2022.