Beyond victory or defeat: determined leadership in practice

As the 21st of September approaches and the International Day of Peace issues a universal call for nonviolence and collective ceasefire, we return to the enduring wisdom of Dag Hammarskjöld. His leadership, forged amid the major global crises of the twentieth century, offers a deeper insight into meaningful progress: lasting transformation rests on persistent commitment that reaches far beyond isolated moments or singular initiatives.

Dag Hammarskjöld: The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. With its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, [it] can never be relaxed and never abandoned.

Dag Hammarskjöld served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 until his death in 1961, transforming the role from administrative figurehead to moral authority on the global stage. A Swedish economist and diplomat, he incorporated philosophical depth with international governance, viewing his position not merely as political but as profoundly ethical. Hammarskjöld's tenure was marked by his innovative approach to peacekeeping, establishing the first UN Emergency Force and developing the concept of "preventive diplomacy." His perspective transcended the conventional binary thinking that reduces leadership outcomes to simple victories or defeats. Instead, Hammarskjöld understood that meaningful leadership operates in the space beyond such immediate classifications, where true progress unfolds through sustained commitment regardless of temporary triumphs or setbacks. His words, drawn from the United Nations Bulletin, speak to a fundamental truth about meaningful leadership: that true progress requires an unwavering commitment that transcends immediate outcomes and temporal boundaries.

Leadership Through Persistent Vision

Hammarskjöld's reflection sees past immediate political contexts to address a fundamental challenge in contemporary leadership: the tension between urgency and sustainability. His words acknowledge that meaningful progress operates on a timeline that extends far beyond individual careers, electoral cycles, or quarterly reports. This perspective demands leaders who can maintain vision and commitment despite setbacks whilst simultaneously recognising that each failure contains essential learning for eventual success.

The concept of never abandoning the pursuit describes a style of leadership that avoids both empty idealism and rigid obstinacy. Instead, it embodies informed resolve, aware that progress unfolds through sustained dedication regardless of immediate outcomes. Hammarskjöld's approach aligns with the Laidlaw value of being #Determined and the Oxford Character Project virtue of #Resilience. Determination commits leaders to sustained, purposeful effort even when early signals are ambiguous; resilience provides the capacity to integrate setbacks without losing direction.

A Call to Reflect

We invite you to reflect on Dag Hammarskjöld's leadership insights as we approach the International Day of Peace. In your own leadership experience, how do you maintain commitment to long-term goals when immediate results are disappointing? Share your reflections on sustaining vision across the inevitable cycles of progress and setback.