Embracing the Sisu Mindset

High in the northern reaches of our planet sits the chilly nation of Finland—a country characterized by its snow-capped mountains and fermented fish dishes. Perhaps more impressive, though, is its status as the happiest nation in the world, per the World Population Review. This is due in no small part to a fundamental aspect of its culture that directs its people’s approach to business, friendship, and even romance: sisu.

While this is a word without a direct English parallel, it roughly translates to being action oriented and persevering despite overwhelming odds—both of which are essential to running a successful organization. Much like learning the Finnish language, though, grasping this concept may require practice. However, its spirit is so uplifting and self-assuring that injecting its tenets into the very core of your strategies can overhaul your business prowess to virtually Nordic heights.

Sisu in a suit

Although it’s a fixture of Finland, sisu can be seamlessly applied to just about any workplace beyond its borders. Take a look at two core components and how you can adopt them in yours.

Action
“Etymologically, ‘sisu’ comes from a Finnish root word that implies ‘inner’ or ‘inside,’” writes ThisisFINLAND, a resource for exploring the nation’s demographics and character. It makes sense, then, that a key aspect is fueling your ambitions from within. Every individual captains their own ship, meaning they are responsible for plotting their course to success and executing each venture to completion. The problem arises when doubt creeps in, making you hesitant to push forward. But sisu reminds you that you are capable. Your ability to strive for professional achievement is already within you—it may simply need to be fostered.

To crank up your action-oriented mindset, start with your approach to business strategy. While devising what you hope to achieve in your organization today, this quarter, and for its future, keep in mind that you are the individual most accountable for laying out a concrete path for tackling your objectives. Consider which strides you can take right now, including small actions like reaching out to a potential referral partner, and then make those moves. After all, good business concepts aren’t simply to be written down and tabled for later; rather, you should establish a plan to enact and nurture them until they flourish, committing to leaving no goal unmet.

Perseverance
Olga Smirnova, a contributing writer for the BBC, recounts her Finnish mother-in-law quipping that “sisu will get you even through granite.” That’s certainly what challenges in business can sometimes feel like: an impenetrable wall. As you face economic downturns, supply issues, and more, draw from sisu’s sense of fortitude to weather the storm. Say that cold leads are failing to engage with your marketing efforts. Rather than lamenting the lost capital and giving up, review your KPIs to determine what you can change, brainstorming alternatives and employing a tactic such as A/B testing. With enough reworking, you could very well devise a successful hook that outperforms your competitors’ promotions.

However, sisu isn’t just for external hurdles—it’s also for internal ones. “The biggest obstacles are between our ears, what we tell ourselves,” says Veikka Gustafsson, the first Finn to ascend Mount Everest. You’ve likely experienced such roadblocks in your entrepreneurial journey, experiencing doubt, fear of failure, or resignation to negativity at various points. These feelings are normal, but it’s what you do in the face of them that matters. Redirect your focus to your strengths and maintain a positive outlook, and you can power through them to become exceptional.

Sharing the wealth

Many Finnish scholars believe that when the country gained independence from Russia, sisu became something of a unifying national identity. It not only helped culturally distinguish the novel nation from its former motherland but also rallied a young society to build a more self-sufficient future overflowing with potential. This shows that while sisu is an internal force, it absolutely blooms when shared with others—which means training your team members to practice it could be foundational to future growth.

To roll out this culture shift, first consider how you might fold sisu into your mission statement and core ethics. For example, you could establish one of your values as being action oriented, tasking everyone with doing their utmost to provide outstanding products or services. Likewise, make it company policy to practice persistence, committing to correcting all client complaints until they are fully resolved.

In addition, periodically set aside time in meetings to emphasize these tenets, even using sisu as a reference. Remind team members at every level that their efficient, passionate work is the cornerstone of your organization’s success. Doing so will help generate a sense of pride in their efforts, inspiring them to come together even further to achieve customer satisfaction.

Minding your motives

As you can see, sisu carries tremendous power when utilized in the workplace—that is, if executed properly. As strong as the Finns’ pride in this concept may be, they also warn of its excess. The term “harmful sisu” refers to taking it to uncontrolled extremes, developing an obsession with pushing through at all costs. Such overdetermination can lead people to burn out and even isolate themselves from their companions in their refusal to accept assistance when needed.

Reflect on your own work ethic, aiming to correct any characteristics of harmful sisu, such as overworking instead of delegating or perceiving colleagues as rivals rather than companions. And to prevent forming such issues in the first place, always remember that you are not a solitary figure, even if you work alone. Consider the value of practicing sisu alongside others, reaching out to potential referral partners, drafting mutually beneficial plans with other industry experts, and opening lines of back-and-forth communication with your customer base. Ultimately, while your success is primarily dependent on your own actions, working arm in arm with others will make you that much more powerful and your efforts so much more promising.

TAKE ACTION:
To delve deeper into this mindset and its attainable solutions, check out The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness through the Power of Sisu by Katja Pantzar.