Whenever I return to running from a lull in mileage or frequency, I’m asking my legs to bear the discomfort of beginning, of carrying me over the distance.  Of enduring.

Speed comes later.  It shows up as a byproduct of endurance.

But new runners don’t know this.  They take off really fast, with big bursts of energy, running flat out until they’re stopped short by lack of capacity.

It’s easy to think that speed is the primary ingredient for business success and innovation. For sure, getting there fast and first has many competitive advantages.

No argument.

But, like runners who go out of the gate too quickly, leaders who don’t develop and cultivate cultures of creativity, curiosity, and purpose can find themselves without the capacity required to generate success.   At the heart of innovation lies the ability to sustain our best effort over time. Endurance.

The question for leaders isn’t, “how do we develop speed?”

The question is, “how do we develop people?”

This spring I’m considering building my running capacity to tackle another half-marathon on the way to my first 26.2.   Stay tuned.

To learn more about working with me directly to create and lead a culture of endurance and speed: sarah@sarah-levitt.com