What do you do if your leadership position requires resilience?

Every leadership position requires resilience and here are some ideas on how to practice it: Develop Self-Awareness: Understand your triggers. This allows you to recognize when you're feeling stressed and take steps to address those feelings. Stay Flexible: In a leadership role, unexpected obstacles are inevitable. Being flexible allows you to adjust your plans without becoming discouraged. Maintain a Positive Mindset: Focus on the opportunities presented by challenges rather than dwelling on the setbacks. Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with people who can offer guidance when you need it most. Learn from Setbacks: Instead of dwelling on failures, use them as opportunities for growth and learning.

Resilience is not just about bouncing back but bouncing forward. Everything we need in life needs Resilience for is to succeed. In Leadership, one of the must have is Resilience. 1. Practice Mindfulness : The ability to reflect and look at things from within. 2. Embrace Gratitude: Be grateful for the journey. Gratitude helps you to see stumbling blocks as stepping stones 3. Build a support system: Having people in your circle to support and encourage you through the journey is as important as the journey itself 4. Embrace Positivity: A positive man is a possible man. With a Positive Mindset, you can achieve anything because in Positivity there are Possibilities

Resilience is not merely about weathering storms; it's about harnessing adversity as a catalyst for growth. Resilient leaders navigate challenges with fortitude, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. They embrace setbacks as opportunities for learning and innovation, inspiring those around them to persevere in the face of adversity.

As a leader, I have come to understand that resilience is not merely about enduring adversity but about embracing it as an opportunity for growth and transformation. It is the ability to rise above setbacks and failures with grace, inspiring those around me to do the same. Through resilience, I demonstrate an unyielding commitment to my vision and values, guiding my team toward brighter horizons. It is in moments of adversity that true leadership is forged, and it is through resilience that we emerge stronger, wiser, and more capable of leading with courage, compassion, and conviction.

Destiny to an era that will not be considered distant, maybe starting from mid 90s until end of the first decade of 21st century, resilience was seen as being extremely strict or even inhumane. Contrary to this approach, within the last decade, it is now understood that resilience is not denying the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the humankind, but is clearly helping to diagnose, understand and treat in an effective way. Resilience as a culture, makes organizations’ cultures significantly more livable and successful.

Resilience is about the mental capacity we have in us to bounce back from a negative, difficult, or a problem that has the power to pull you down. Resilience is not about the strength on a physical sense, in business sense it is all about the inner strength, the mindset you have developed in order to get back to the course. A positive mindset, could be key to enable you to be resilient to situations. And as leaders it is inevitable that we fail, fall back or face various challenges as we lead organizations and people. It is important that we do not get stressed out and focus on the controllable and uncontrollable factors. We need to align ourselves towards the controllable factors and learn lessons and work towards improving it daily.

In my perspective, resilience is the alloy that fortifies a leader’s resolve. It’s the capacity to absorb shocks and rebound, akin to a robust mechanical system designed to endure and adapt. For example, during a product recall, I had to navigate through a storm of criticism and technical setbacks. It was a test of resilience that taught me the importance of maintaining composure and focus, ensuring that the team didn’t fracture under pressure but instead, used the experience to refine our processes and enhance our product’s integrity.

It’s not just Leaders that require resilience, I think all humans do! However , I must say Leaders require more. Leadership is more about learning to except what it is, it is! It’s also about learning every mistake made is part of the journey.

I don't believe that there is a leadership role that doesn't require resilience, especially in the VUCA environment we are all living in. At early stages of leadership, resilience comes to support one's change of mindset, dynamics and the new experiences and challenges the new role implies. At the mid-management stage, it helps navigate the concurrent top-down, bottom-up pressure and dilemmas. And as leaders reach the higher levels, it is required to overcome complex obstacles and thrive in more politically charged systems in play.

Resilience is vital for leaders because it’s the fuel that powers through adversity. I remember leading a team through a high-stakes transition, where the margin for error was nonexistent. It was resilience that enabled us to embrace the uncertainty and use it as a catalyst for innovation. Leaders must embody resilience, as it instills confidence and trust in their teams, ensuring that when faced with challenges, they can navigate through them with assurance and emerge on the other side stronger and more unified.

Resilience is essential for leaders because it's lonely at the top. Leaders have multiple responsibilities to manage—people, systems, and themselves—and it can be emotionally taxing. Leaders who have implemented a strategy to maintain their well-being can cope with challenges, take breaks when needed, and make quick decisions amid change and high-pressure situations. Resilient leaders will have outlets to bounce back and not impact their team, the mission, and others' well-being.

Resilience is important because it helps shapes our mental strength in the face of adversity or Challenges. This can help build consistency and dedication to doing what you do in a more effective and efficient way.

Every follower looks up to a leader, and we need to know that everyone around him is observing him, most of all a leader should be able to stand up for himself. We cannot and need not sometimes prove ourselves to others, but first be confident to to prove ourselves that we are able to handle matters. But this does not mean a leader should not reach out for help, and that reaching out to others might perceive that he is a not a good leader. As good leader should be able to give and also receive help. And being resilient in various situations, help your followers gain valuable insights and follow them in their own capacities. As a leader when you face challenging situations and conflicts, it is important that you display how you face them

This is like asking why you should be healthy. We exercise to keep our physical body healthy so that we can perform to the best of our physical abilities. Similarly, we need to practice resilience to be emotionally strong and stable, stay productive, make the right decisions, and take action when a crisis strikes us unannounced. This is even more crucial for leaders because they are always responsible for maintaining high productivity, performance, and top-notch decision-making prowess.

Resilience is the bedrock upon which effective leadership is built. In the volatile landscape of leadership, where uncertainty and complexity abound, resilient leaders serve as beacons of stability and inspiration. By embodying resilience, leaders can navigate turbulent waters with grace, instill confidence in their teams, and foster a culture of perseverance and innovation.

Building personal resilience is a continuous process of self-improvement. One thing I’ve found helpful is to approach challenges as opportunities for growth. Earlier in my career, I faced a project failure that seemed like a career setback. However, I realized that by dissecting the failure and extracting lessons, I could fortify my approach to future projects. This mindset shift transformed obstacles into stepping stones, enhancing my problem-solving skills and emotional fortitude.

Building resilience starts from within not without. You are the major game player when it come to your resilience. 1. SELF-CARE is very important on this journey. People you are the major player in your game, you have to take care of the major player which is you. Eat good food, get enough sleep, workout, go for swimming, do what makes you happy. SELF-CARE is not selfish and it is part of the work 2. Growth mindsets help you see that everything happens so you can learn and be better. No regrets, learn from the mistakes.

Cultivating personal resilience requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses mindset, self-care, and support systems. Embracing a growth mindset enables leaders to view challenges as opportunities for growth and development, fostering resilience in the face of adversity. Prioritizing self-care practices, such as mindfulness, exercise, and adequate rest, nurtures the physical and emotional well-being essential for resilience. Additionally, seeking support from trusted mentors, peers, and coaches provides invaluable perspective and encouragement on the journey toward resilience.

Learn to discern what is really required of you and what you might be carrying that actually is not yours. Too often "leaders" think they have to know it all and fix everything. That's not your job. Your job is to motivate and inspire and lead by example. Empower everyone around you to take care of themselves and others and have honest discussions about systems issues vs individual issues.

Fostering resilience within a team requires creating an environment where risks are encouraged, and failures are seen as learning experiences. In my experience, transparent communication and collective problem-solving are key. By sharing my own challenges and how I overcame them, I’ve helped cultivate a team culture that values perseverance and adaptability, ensuring that each member feels supported and empowered to tackle any challenge head-on.

Building resilience within the team begins with the team; 1. Create an environment of Love: A place were people feel loved and appreciated helps them build their mental resilience much more 2. Delegation: This helps give people a sense of importance to the team. When people see themselves as a major team player, they then to bounce back quickly from challenges 3. Mental health awareness: Create an environment where people are free to talk about how they feel and their challenges. This can help us know how to come in and support.

As leaders, fostering resilience in our teams is paramount to collective success. By fostering open communication channels and cultivating a culture of trust and psychological safety, leaders empower team members to navigate challenges with resilience and confidence. Recognizing and celebrating team achievements fosters a sense of camaraderie and bolsters resilience in the face of adversity. Moreover, providing opportunities for skill development and growth empowers team members to embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and personal development.

Measuring resilience is not straightforward, as it involves both tangible and intangible metrics. In my role, I’ve learned to assess resilience by observing how my team responds to setbacks. Do they falter or find a way to overcome? To improve resilience, we conduct regular retrospectives to analyze our responses to challenges, ensuring that with each project, we’re not just delivering results but also strengthening our collective capacity to endure and adapt.

The main components used to measure resilience differ depending on which scale you go by. Measuring resilience needs at least two things; a measure of mental health and a measure of stressor exposure, and mental health needs to be measured at least at two time points

When a crisis hits unannounced, you can measure your current SOP (standard operating procedure). Then, go through the routine of Setback Leadership to create a productive and high-performing Setback SOP. Take the test at the end of this routine and measure your resilience quotient.

Measuring and enhancing resilience requires a proactive approach centered on reflection, goal-setting, and feedback. Engaging in resilience assessments provides valuable insights into one's strengths and areas for growth, serving as a roadmap for resilience enhancement. Setting tangible resilience goals, such as developing coping strategies or fostering a growth mindset, enables leaders to track progress and celebrate milestones along the journey. Seeking feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors offers invaluable perspective and guidance on areas for improvement, fostering a culture of continuous growth and resilience. 🌱💼

Consider employee assistance program if it’s available. I sought help from EAP when I became HOD. Not because I had a disorder but because I wanted to perform well in a challenging role. It helped. I survived 3 years. The Department thrived and grew. I got promoted after that. Seeing the Psychologist is not only about treatment for recovery but also about learning to thrive and flourish. I owe my success to EAP therapy. No shame in it.

I'd always consider 'resilience' carefully and take a critical view about how it has been used (and abused) in workplaces and wellbeing advice. There is a difference in being trained, supported, supervised and paid to tackle complex and challenging situations where persistence, determination, focus, and a range of skills for sensitive, ethical and inclusive working practices are required; and having to endure harmful, toxic, dangerous and extractive workplaces. Very often 'resilience' involves pushing untrained, unsupported and unappreciated people to endure unacceptable and damaging conditions without complaint, suggesting that 'suffering is a badge of honour'. Be wary of resilience and question those who promote it uncritically.

Resilience is not built in a day. Face challenges and stay put. Don't let it affect your value in your own eyes. Also don't take setbacks and failures as permanent. This shall pass is the mantra ✨️

Beyond the usual metrics, consider emotional intelligence and mindfulness as tools for resilience. ‘Leaders Eat Last’ by Simon Sinek and ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck are insightful reads that offer deeper understanding and practical techniques for cultivating resilience.

Nothing is impossible. Just roll your sleeves, think calm ;everything in this world can be solved , we just need to jump in !