Many of us, when we break something, tend to see that item as no good anymore and will probably throw it away.
The Japanese though, have a tradition that when a piece of pottery is broken, they repair it using a lacquer mixed with gold. Known as Kintsugi, or Golden Joinery, a 400 year old tradition, people will repair the damage, creating an even stronger and more beautiful piece.
It’s worth remembering that when we break something, it tends to be an accident. We don’t go out of our way to intentionally break something that is precious or valuable to us.
It’s the same when we are dealing with people and it’s the same when we look at ourselves.
They’ll be times when we say something or do something that upsets someone. We don’t do it on purpose. But our actions have damaged that dynamic between us, maybe even broken it.
It doesn’t mean that we then must throw it away. Far from it. We have an opportunity, as a leader, to mend it. To go out of our way to repair that relationship, to add a little thread of gold.
But also, recognise that you yourself will go through tough times. It’s an inevitable part of life.
Being able to reframe those hardships, to remind yourself that you are not a victim of the circumstances, that whatever we go through will create cracks and damage, but we can repair.
We can come out the other side stronger. We can all have a little bit of gold.
Kintsugi is also often used as a metaphor for embracing your own flaws & imperfections.
So, when it comes to leading others, whether it’s something you done or it’s how you are feeling, we are better with our golden cracks, we are better with our repairs. We are more unique. We are more resilient.