Patience and Persistence: Mastering the Long Game of Leadership

Last week my eldest son was presented his special year 6 t-shirt and Leadership pin. At our kids school year 6 means they are inducted into the 'Leadership Academy' which is part of the curriculum to actively learn leadership skills (what a gift!).

In the lead up to the big day, my son was preparing his speech to address the whole primary school and the parents attending. (A big crowd by any standards) I was equal parts nervous for him and incredibly proud.

Over the last couple of weeks he's been writing, and rewriting his speech, making sure it's just right. practicing it over and over. As a natural learning moment we've been talking a lot about what it means to be a leader. And for his role in leadership at the school, it's ultimately about his ability to listen and support the younger grades.

When the big day arrived, he was fantastic, engaging and funny (some things are genetic!). He spoke from the heart and I was so impressed with his persistence and patience in preparation for this event. he's well and truly on his way.

Leadership is often portrayed as a series of bold moves, quick decisions, and rapid results. But in reality, great leadership is more of a marathon than a sprint. It’s about playing the long game. Developing patience and persistence that allows you to stay the course, even when the journey is long and challenging.

The Power of Patience in Leadership

Patience is one of the most undervalued qualities in leadership. In a world that values speed and instant gratification, patience can feel like a weakness. But in truth, patience is a strength that allows you to navigate complex challenges, make thoughtful decisions, and build lasting success.

In leadership, patience means understanding that great things take time. It’s about having the foresight to see beyond immediate results and focusing on long-term goals. Patience allows you to build strong relationships, develop your team’s skills, and create sustainable success.

Why Persistence Matters

While patience helps you stay focused on the long game, persistence is what keeps you moving forward. Persistence is the determination to keep going, even when progress is slow or setbacks occur. It’s the ability to push through obstacles, stay committed to your goals, and keep striving for excellence.

In leadership, persistence is essential. Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but it’s your ability to persevere that will determine your success. Persistence is what helps you stay on track, even when the path is difficult, and ensures that you continue to make progress toward your goals.

Cultivating Patience and Persistence

So, how can you cultivate patience and persistence in your leadership? Here are a few strategies:

Set Long-Term Goals: Focus on long-term objectives rather than short-term results. This will help you stay patient and avoid the temptation to chase quick wins.
Stay Committed: Persistence requires commitment. Stay focused on your goals, and don’t let setbacks or challenges derail your progress. Remember, success often takes time, and persistence is what will see you through.
Practice Mindfulness: Patience is easier to cultivate when you’re present in the moment. Practice mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help you stay calm and focused.
Celebrate Small Wins: Persistence doesn’t mean ignoring progress along the way. Celebrate small wins and milestones to keep yourself motivated and on track.

Patience and persistence are the keys to mastering the long game of leadership. By focusing on long-term goals, staying committed to your vision, and persevering through challenges, you can build lasting success as a leader. Great leadership is not about quick wins. It’s about playing the long game, and that requires both patience and persistence.

The Long Game: A Lesson in Leadership from One of My Clients

I recently wrapped up a leadership coaching engagement with one of my clients who reminded me, yet again, of the quiet power that patience and persistence bring to leadership. When we first started working together, they were caught in the fast lane, constantly solving short-term problems, chasing quick wins, and wondering why long-term traction felt just out of reach.

It wasn’t that they weren’t capable, in fact, far from it. They were smart, driven, and incredibly dedicated. But like so many leaders, they were stuck in reaction mode, trying to manage the noise instead of creating clarity. That’s where the conversation about The Long Game began.

The Power of Patience

Together, we worked on shifting their perspective from urgency to intentionality. One of the biggest mindset shifts was redefining patience. Not as inaction, but as a deliberate leadership strategy. Patience, we discussed, isn’t about waiting for things to happen. It’s about holding the vision, even when results aren’t immediate. It’s about knowing when to pause, when to breathe, and when to trust the process.

Over time, this client began leading with more calm and confidence. They stopped reacting and started responding. They gave their team space to grow, they allowed ideas to evolve, and they started focusing on outcomes that were sustainable. Not just visible.

Persistence in Practice

But patience on its own isn’t enough. We paired it with a commitment to persistence, the ability to keep showing up, to stick with the vision, and to push through the inevitable setbacks. There were moments of doubt. Times when it felt like nothing was shifting fast enough. But they stayed the course. They stayed with the work. And slowly but surely, momentum started to build.

We often spoke about how leadership is rarely linear. Sometimes it’s gritty. Sometimes it’s thankless. But those who persist, who keep showing up with intention and consistency. They are the ones who create lasting impact.

Seeing the Shift

One project stands out in particular. It had stalled multiple times before we began working together. There was team resistance, competing priorities, and a real temptation to abandon it altogether. But my client chose to lead differently this time. With patience. With persistence. With clarity and conviction.

The project didn’t just get back on track, it became a defining moment for the team. Not because it was perfect, but because of how it was led. That rippled across people, performance, and culture, It is what playing the long game looks like in action.

The Takeaway

This client’s journey is a perfect reminder that leadership is not about fast results or flashy wins. It’s about holding the vision when no one else can see it yet. It’s about being grounded enough to wait, and committed enough to keep going.

If you’re in a season of leadership where it feels like progress is slow, let me offer this: patience is not weakness. Persistence is not stubbornness. Together, they’re the foundations of legacy leadership.

And the leaders who play the long game? They’re the ones who build things that last.

Until next time, Eat the Frog, Get the Worm, Be the Bird and step into that patience and persistence for the long game.

Ally

Ally Nitschke is a best-selling Author, an award-winning Thought Leader and Speaker. She has been working with leaders and as a Leader for over 20 years.

She is on a mission to change the way we communicate at work, to lean into those uncomfortable conversations and lead with courage.

Ally is a Keynote Speaker at conferences, delivers Transformational Programs & highly engaging workshops as well as provides Executive Coaching.