For the past few days, I've been diving into The Cycles of Leadership.
The first article split Leadership Cycles into Two Main Categories.
Vicious Cycles.
Like a Whirlpool, Pulling you into the Abyss.
Virtuous Cycles.
Like a Staircase, Ascending to the Pearly Gates.
These Categories led to some amazing questions that I've been answering.
The second article provided the Tips (and Secrets) to Building Virtuous Cycles.
Then, yesterday's article went into the Strategies to Escape the Abyss of Vicious Cycles.
As I have been going through this, another wonderful question arose.
Do Virtuous Cycles Exist?
The individual who asked said it felt like Finding a Needle in a Haystack.
With this, they also admitted that they "May" have a "Jaded" Perspective.
However, I'm inclined to Agree with them.
I Believe their Perspective is Correct.
It's Not Jaded.
It's Spot On.
Do Virtuous Cycles Exist?
They Do.
But it "Is" like Finding a Needle in a Haystack.
However, I understand that this is Not a "Helpful" Answer.
What "Good" is it to Know they Exist, but are Exceedingly Rare?
This brings us to what is perhaps a Better Question.
Why?
Why are they so Rare?
Why has it, arguably, become "More" Difficult to Find them?
You Can't Fix Something unless you Understand Why it Happened.
So, what has Caused today's Mass Vicious Cycles?
If you simplified it to One Word it would be...
Burnout.
It is Impacting 80% of Employees, with More on the way.
The Trends have been getting Worse.
Significantly Worse.
The Reason Why is Scientific.
Burnout Spreads.
Literally.
Via Neurocardiology and Electromagnetic Waves.
You could say that a Workplace in Burnout is one of the Worst Forms of a Vicious Cycle.
Perhaps the only Worse Forms exist in Communities and the World at large.
Which, with 80% of the Workforce in Burnout seems to suggest we may already be there.
This is Why Virtuous Cycles are Rare.
Burnout is Today's "Norm".
But what is Causing the Burnout?
Well, it is a Variety of Factors.
The Horrible Nutrition in today's world.
The Lack of Using our Bodies.
Societal "Ideals" that are Both Sick and Damaging.
Desire for Profit at All Costs, including "Literally" Human Life.
Extreme Trauma - both Experienced and Inherited via Epigenetics.
Healthcare Systems that Prioritize Pharmaceutical Addiction over Saving Lives.
Extreme Levels of Dis-Stress that are only Added Onto instead of Resolved.
A Maelstrom of Burnout.
Dragging Us to Early Graves.
I read an Article Earlier today that described it well...
"Most companies are mass graves of free souls."
It's True.
On top of this, Few Leaders are Doing anything about the state of the World.
They Pay Lip Service.
But Fail to Act.
It is True in Every Level of Leadership.
Business.
Politics.
Sadly, even in Religious Institutions.
It is a Large part of the Reason I began the work I do today.
I saw the Trends getting worse and wanted to Do Something.
This brings forth another Great Question.
In the Face of this Maelstrom, a Gigantic Whirlpool dragging us into the Abyss...
What can we do to Overcome It?
Well, it begins by Understanding that it is not "One" Cycle.
Rather, Countless Cycles are occurring around us.
Simultaneously.
Each either Contributing or Fighting Against the Current.
We all have Individual Cycles.
Familial Cycles.
Team Cycles.
Organizational Cycles.
Community Cycles.
National Cycles.
Worldwide Cycles.
There are more that exist as well, but this gives us a pretty good breakdown.
Part of "Why" it is so Difficult to Find Virtuous Cycles is because we have a Tendency to See "Big to Small".
We see the Worldwide Cycles.
This Impacts the National Cycles.
Which moves into the Community Cycles.
It works into the Organizational Cycles.
By the time it Reaches our Individual Cycles, we "Feel" Helpless.
This often causes us to simply Succumb to the Current, and Subconsciously Contribute to the Vicious Cycles around us.
But the Truth is that, often, there are "Many" Virtuous Cycles Hidden within the Maelstrom.
Individuals who are Striving for Virtuous Cycles.
Communities that Contribute to Virtuous Cycles.
Teams that are Moving toward Virtuous Cycles.
There are even Organizations beginning to Develop Virtuous Cycles.
But it is Hard to See when you Look "Big to Small".
Usually, you find these going from Small to Big.
Who are the Individuals who are "Living" in Virtuous Cycles?
What Communities are they a part of?
What Organizations do they Respect?
This is how you will make your way toward Finding the Needles.
But there is Another Key in here.
Start with Yourself.
You "May" be Trapped in a Whirlpool of a Vicious Cycle.
But Some Things are Still in Your Control.
Work on Improving those Things in Your Control.
The Beginning tends to be a Defensive Game.
Where are the Vicious Cycles?
How can I Lessen their Impact?
Can I get Rid of Them?
What is Causing Them?
As you Define these, and Discover their Impact, you can begin to Avoid and Eliminate them.
When you've done this Enough, you can take the Offense.
Start Building the Virtuous Cycles.
"This" is when you Begin to "See" Others working on Their Own Virtuous Cycles.
That is the Gateway You're Looking For.
Do Virtuous Cycles Exist?
Yes, they do.
Are they Like Needles in a Haystack?
Yes, they are.
But does that mean they Do Not Exist and Cannot be Found?
No, it Does Not.
However, you "Must" begin with You.
Go Small.
Understand the Vicious Cycles.
Stop Contributing to them.
Avoid where You're Able.
Build Virtuous Cycles for Yourself.
Then, You'll begin to Act like a Magnet.
Both in Finding Others who Are Building Virtuous Cycles, as well as Attracting Other Individuals who Seek Escape from Vicious Cycles.
Join or Build Communities.
Join or Build Organizations.
If we Do This, Together, we will Overcome Today's Maelstrom.
There are Virtuous Cycles that Exist, but there Should be More.
It is up to Us to Create Them.