Editorial by Managing Director Alexander De Beir
Ask yourself: “When was the last time, I truly showed courage?” When did you take a daring literal or figurative leap? I’m not talking about reckless initiatives aimed solely at tempting fate or impressing others. What fascinates me are people who, sometimes against all warnings, dare to break free from a static, seemingly hopeless situation, defying statistics or predictions. With their creative audacity, they challenge numerous prejudices and entrenched viewpoints. They know they risk being abandoned by colleagues or punished by public opinion, yet they choose the unexpected.
Vision, resilience and confidence
I don’t hide my admiration for such people. Instead, I try to understand the skills they possess that allow them to take the leap despite all warnings. I can identify at least three qualities – there may be more – that are decisive in this context. I would like to cite two recent examples, consciously chosen from two totally different contexts and perceptions.
When Emmanuel Macron decided to dissolve the parliament in early June, he was declared insane by nearly all politicians and political commentators from France and beyond. When the youngest professional footballer ever at a European Championship, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, 16 years old (!), decided to take a chance with an improbable move while trailing 0-1, artificial intelligence, which analyzes faster than ever, likely calculated that he had less than a 1% chance of scoring from his position. What do Yamal and Macron have in common at the critical moment of their decision: the vision, literally or figuratively, to perfectly assess where they want to go.
Beyond limits
In Yamal’s case, it becomes clear within a second or two that the corner of the goal is his target. In Macron’s case, most political observers today are still questioning what exactly he aimed for. The fact is that when he dissolved the parliament, he declared his intention to clarify the French voters’ choice regarding extremes. He likely decided months before that the system of the 5th Republic, initiated by Charles de Gaulle in a totally different context, was reaching its limits and would sooner or later endanger the country’s continued operation and necessary evolution. He stated that he did not want to leave the country to the extremes. Only the future will show whether he was right.
Lamine showed youthful resilience, not just literally. A forward knows that he converts only a minority of scoring chances into goals. Thus, he knows it’s best to wait for the greatest chance to be decisive. Yet he dared to push the boundaries. Perhaps just before his legendary goal, he made a wrong pass or his positioning was off. Macron, who was at a historically low popularity level before calling new elections, knew he would sink further in the polls.
Supported or standing alone
A striker without confidence is a worthless player. A 16-year-old playing for one of the best teams in the world and being called up by the national team for a starting spot knows that the confidence he exudes is shared by teammates, the coach and spectators. He unconsciously feels that this confidence is amplified by an entire nation that sees in him the embodiment of a bright future, better days, collective joy. Macron emphasized that he trusted the French people to make the right decision. Against the advice and will of most of his close associates, he gave the people the chance to impose their own will three years earlier than planned. Today, he enjoys only 27% positive opinions among the French people… while 61% of the French agreed with dissolving parliament to call for early elections.
Daredevils have this in common: they always start from an inner urge to jump. Perhaps it’s not just a merit but also partly an inherent or learned character trait. The tide can turn, but those who feel this inner urge have a duty to listen to it, to become the best version of themselves. This is also true for (future) higher independent profiles and aspiring interim managers. Go ahead and jump!
