Difficult times are something leaders generally try to avoid. But just like the almendro tree in the rainforests of Central America, adversity does not always weaken us — it can make us stronger. Scientists have long believed that lightning strikes only harms trees, much like many assume hardships only hold leaders back. As forest ecologist Evan Gora said in this article, “Your best-case scenario is that you’re kind of okay, and your worst-case scenario is: you explode in a million bits.” But after years of studying trees hit by lightning, Gora and his team found something remarkable: not only do some trees survive, but certain species — like the almendro — actually benefit from the strike. This is a powerful lesson for leaders. Trials and setbacks do not have to be the end of us. They can be the very things that clear the way for our greatest growth and impact.
4 Lessons on Leadership Pain: Lessons from the Amazon’s Lightning-Struck Almendro Trees
The following are four lessons on endurance and perseverance leaders can learn from lightning-struck almendro trees:
1. Adversity Strips Away All Non-Essentials
When lightning strikes an almendro, something interesting happens. The trees competing with it for water and nutrients are often destroyed. Even more, parasitic vines that steal sunlight from it are wiped out. As a result, the almendro is not weaker — it actually becomes stronger. It now has more room to grow, more access to resources, and a clearer path to thrive. The same happens in leadership. Hard times force us to reevaluate what truly matters. They strip away distractions, remove negative influences, and refocus us on what is essential. The leaders who emerge from challenges are often those who have learned to let go of what was holding them back.
2. Trials Build Endurance and Resilience resulting in Growth
Unlike most trees, which are severely damaged or even killed by lightning, the almendro has developed an incredible resistance. It withstands what destroys others. In fact, researchers believe that these trees have adapted over time to not only endure strikes but to use them as part of their growth strategy. Great leaders do the same. They build resilience through trials. They develop the mental and emotional strength to withstand setbacks, criticism, and failures. The difficulties that break others become stepping stones to success for those who persevere.
3. What Seems Like Destruction Can Actually Be a Necessity
Gora’s research showed that without being struck by lightning, almendros would not live as long. It seems counterintuitive, but what seemed like devastation was actually a necessary part of their survival. How often do we try to avoid struggles that are actually essential to our growth? The greatest leaders are often those who have endured the most. They have faced rejection, failure, and crisis — but they have also come out on the other side stronger, wiser, and more effective. This leads to the next point…
4. The Great Leaders Actually Seek Out Challenges That Stretch Them
Researchers speculate that almendro trees may have actually evolved to attract lightning, or at the very least, not to avoid it. Their wide crowns and towering height make them living lightning rods. Rather than fearing the strike, they position themselves to receive it because it ultimately makes them stronger. Successful leaders adopt the same mindset. They do not shy away from challenges; they actually seek out opportunities that stretch and test them. They willingly put themselves in difficult situations, knowing that pressure produces growth. The greatest leaders embrace risks, take on responsibilities others avoid, and step into adversity with confidence. True leaders do not just survive challenges — they pursue them, understanding that discomfort is often the birthplace of greatness.
Final Thought
No leader seeks hardship, but the best ones recognize its value. Like the almendro, we can either fear adversity or embrace it as a tool for growth. The challenges you face today are not meant to break you. They are refining you, strengthening you, and preparing you for greater impact. Endure, persevere, and trust that what seems like destruction may actually be the key to your longevity and success.
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