1.3.10.8. Case Application Exercise

This exercise uses the Patagonia case study to analyze how grit, adaptability, and confidence operate in real strategic decisions — not as abstract concepts, but as observable leadership behaviors. Your task is to focus on a single pivotal decision point and dissect how psychological capacity shaped the way Patagonia navigated sustained difficulty, resistance, and uncertainty.

Instructions

1. Identify a single pivotal decision point.
   Using the Patagonia case study, choose one specific moment where the company faced sustained difficulty, resistance, or uncertainty. Examples may include discontinuing pitons, transitioning to organic cotton, slowing growth, or redesigning core processes. Capture this decision as a clear, standalone statement — without adding justification, analysis, or interpretation at this stage.
2. List the primary barriers Patagonia encountered.
   For that decision, identify the main obstacles Patagonia confronted. Consider internal resistance, financial pressure, operational constraints, industry expectations, customer response, and cultural implications. Do not label these barriers as positive or negative; simply describe them as conditions that existed around the decision.
3. Map each barrier to psychological capacity.
   For every barrier, determine which psychological capacity — grit, adaptability, or confidence — was most essential to overcoming it. Some barriers may be linked primarily to one capacity; others may clearly require a combination (for example, grit + adaptability, or adaptability + confidence). Make these connections explicit in your notes.
4. Identify one concrete action from the case.
   For the decision you selected, write one specific action Patagonia took that demonstrates the chosen capacity or capacities in practice. Be precise and base your answer on evidence from the case. Avoid hypothetical solutions or imagined alternatives — the goal is to analyze what actually strengthened momentum, not what might have been done differently.
5. Write a brief leadership reflection (3–5 sentences).
   Conclude by describing the leadership posture demonstrated in that moment. In 3–5 sentences, reflect on:
   • How Patagonia navigated uncertainty, not just operationally, but psychologically.
   • How mindset shaped decision quality, pace, and alignment with values and long-term vision.
   • What this reveals about leading with purpose under long-term ambiguity.