5 Ways To Build Resilient Leadership In Challenging Times

 The genie is out of the bottle, and organizations cannot go back to the way things used to be. The aftermath of Covid is going to be felt by leaders and organizations for years to come.

If you are currently feeling the stress and burden of leadership, you are not alone. Many leaders are being challenged by a new and more complex landscape.

Why will some succeed and others fail? The secret to leaders thriving in this new landscape is resilient leadership.

But what is resilient leadership, and why is it so important? How do you build your resilient leadership skills, so you can thrive in challenging, disruptive, and turbulent times?

What Is Resilient Leadership?

According to Professor George Kohlrieser:

“Resilient leaders can sustain their energy level under pressure. So that they can cope with disruptive changes and adapt. They bounce back from setbacks. They also overcome major difficulties without engaging in dysfunctional behavior or harming others.”

New Scientist reports that “your reaction to stress and how quickly you return to normal when the stressor has passed is called resilience.”

This definition tells us that stress and resilience are inextricably linked. Leaders stuck in stress states will find it much more difficult to be resilient. Managing stress becomes a significant factor in building leadership resilience.

1. Growth Mindset

Developing a growth mindset is an essential ingredient to building resilient leadership. Resilience is your ability to respond adaptively to challenges. Being able to adapt requires change, and positive change leads to growth.

The quickest way to grow and create new opportunities is through adversity. Without adversity, there would be little growth, and without growth, you cannot realize your potential.

You do not have to figure it out by yourself. Leverage the power of the collective mind power of your team and work colleagues.

2. Mindfulness

Scientists and self-help gurus often times argue that some sources of stress and misery are caused by ruminating on our worries while robbing us of the present. Mindfulness and mindfulness tools such as meditation have proven to boost our moods and our overall health.

It is often this same voice that interferes with your ability to be a resilient leader. How much more productive and positive would you be if you could tame this inner critic?

3. Being Present

Much has been written about living in the present moment. The most well-known is the book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle.

Being in the present moment is powerful because you are not bound by limiting beliefs and past failures or worried about the future. Instead, you have full access to the power of your mind when you are in the present moment.

Let’s imagine a tennis player who is about to serve the ball. They look up and see that it is break point. Their thoughts and focus suddenly jump to the future and what happens if they lose the point. That means less energy and focus on hitting the ball.

They do this by placing all their focus on serving the ball. They are so focused that their mind may even alert them to their opponent making a slight movement in a particular direction. This enables them to adjust their serve and easily win the point.

4. The Power of Purpose

Let’s look at an example that shows how the power of purpose builds resilience.

Imagine taking a road trip. However, not long into the trip, your car breaks down. Fortunately, you find a car mechanic who fixes your car, and you set off again.

Because of the length of the trip, you have booked overnight accommodation. You arrive at the motel a lot later than expected, tired and exhausted. You approach the reception area only to be told there was a mix-up, and they gave your reservation to someone else.

What do you think your decision would be when you realized you had left your wallet on the side of the road? Would you decide to go home? Or would the motivation of seeing your parents encourage you to drive back, find your wallet, and continue your trip?

5. Keep It Real

Putting things into perspective and being realistic is another simple and effective way to build resilient leadership.

Final Thoughts

As a leader, you are in a position of great power to influence and impact the lives of the people around you.

Leadership in today’s turbulent climate isn’t easy. It is easy to become stressed and lose focus on your goals as well as what truly matters. Today, more than ever, leaders need to be resilient.

Every journey begins with a single step. Choose one strategy from the five listed. Then, commit to taking action on it.

The impact you have as a leader can only be as great as your decisions and actions.