How can you be a resilient leader?

Understanding oneself is foundational to resilience. When a leader is self-aware, they are better equipped to recognize when they're approaching burnout, when they need to seek support, and how best to navigate challenges based on their personal strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness is not just about recognizing your emotions and behaviours but also about understanding the root causes behind them and using that knowledge to navigate leadership challenges effectively. As with any skill, it requires continuous effort and practice, but the rewards in terms of leadership effectiveness and resilience are substantial.

One thing I have found to be helpful is to understand my relationship with resilience. How am I being when resilience requires a response? How am I being with courage? How am I being with anxiety? The healthy and unhealthy relationships we have with these and other ways of being determine the outcomes of our experiences.

Sometimes self assessment is not enough for measuring your own resilience capacity. Crisis management simulation and table top exercises with your teams can help a lot but they cannot replace a real time crisis management operation. Practice team effort in exercise and do a lot of planning in your management strategy! You will be glad to notice how high your resilience level will be.

Once you have a better understanding of your resilience, you can start to develop strategies for improving it. 💪 Keep a resilience journal. Track how you react to challenges and setbacks. What are your coping mechanisms? What helps you to bounce back? Ask for feedback from trusted friends and colleagues. How do they see you handling stress and challenges? Take a resilience assessment. There are a number of online and in-person assessments that can help you to identify your strengths and areas for improvement.

Check in with yourself throughout the day. If you find your stress level is getting high, go for a walk, step away to do a short meditation, or whatever practice helps you best. Being able to be calm helps set the tone for your team. If you are burned out, you won't make the best decisions or have much patience left for challenging situations.

A growth mindset is intrinsic to resilience. Leaders who view challenges as learning opportunities are better equipped to bounce back from setbacks. They also foster an environment where their teams are not afraid of making mistakes, but rather, they see them as valuable learning experiences. In essence, fostering a growth mindset is not only beneficial for personal development but is also a cornerstone for effective, resilient leadership. By seeing challenges as opportunities and believing in the potential for growth, leaders can navigate the complexities of their roles with agility and inspire their teams to do the same.

In today's polarized world, resilience is the bedrock of effective leadership. My journey began at 15, navigating spaces not designed for someone like me. My resilience enabled me to forge my unique path. To lead with resilience, nurture self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. Foster a positive mindset and transparent communication to steer your team through trials. Prioritize their well-being, modelling work-life balance. Embrace failures as vital lessons and empower your team to decide. Commend even the smallest victories to elevate spirits. Remember, resilience isn't just about bouncing back—it's about bouncing forward, learning, and emerging stronger from each obstacle.

I have learned that discipline is liberation. Practicing daily- good habits, systems and agility in thought help me cultivate resilience in mindset and work ethic. I also know that being FIT to LEAD means working on my emotional, mental and physical states at every opportunity.

In my experience, failure has a lot to do with the ability to build resilience as a leader. Often times leaders believe that they must have all the answers and shield their staff. Saying, ‘I don’t know’, or ‘This is new territory for me’, actually demonstrates vulnerability in a way that demonstrates authenticity among your colleagues. Failure will happen, it is part of learning. If you fail fast, learn from feedback, and quickly pivot in a new direction you are modeling resiliency and leadership for your staff and colleagues.

When it comes to being a resilient leader, cultivating a growth mindset is undoubtedly a game-changer. I remember stumbling upon Carol Dweck's work on a growth mindset and taking her quiz. It was eye-opening to discover that I was often stuck in a fixed mindset without even realizing it. Since then, I've been committed to doing the work to shift my perspective. Embracing challenges as opportunities, learning from setbacks and seeking continuous improvement have transformed the way I approach both personal and professional situations. This shift in mindset has truly been a cornerstone in my journey towards becoming a more resilient leader. Thanks for sparking this conversation! 🌱🌟

Self care is not selfish. I see it as an imperative. As leaders who we are is how we lead. And if we aren't taking care of ourselves, we won't get to be as impactful as we can be. If we are stressed, anxious, burnt-out or exhausted, this not only hurts us but hurts those who need and rely on our influence. Self care is a non negotiable and absolutely important for maintaining resiliency.

As managers, this means we must ruthlessly prioritise our time. In the same way we make trade-offs for our team's work, we must make trade-offs for our own time. Say no more often, and set healthy boundaries. We must be physically and emotionally available to our team, and ourselves! By booking breaks and padding between meetings, we can look after ourselves and signal to our team that we really value self care and it's not an afterthought. Self-care isn't about going on a yoga retreat, or a week off (thought that IS nice!). It's about consistently prioritising your wellbeing in tiny moments, every day.

Get enough sleep. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Eat a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit processed foods and sugary drinks. Exercise regularly. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Spend time in nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Connect with loved ones. Make time for the people who are important to you. Do things you enjoy. Make time for activities that you find relaxing and enjoyable. Self-care is not selfish. It's essential for your well-being and your ability to lead effectively. 🧘♀️❤️🔥

Self-care is such a crucial aspect of leadership resilience. I used to prioritize others and often put self-care on the back burner, if it even made it onto the list. It wasn't until I experienced burnout and exhaustion that I realized the necessity of self-care. Since then, I've made a conscious effort to integrate self-care practices into my daily routine. It's amazing how such a seemingly small shift can lead to more energy, focus, and overall well-being. Prioritizing self-care has not only benefited me, but it's also allowed me to show up as a more resilient and effective leader. Thanks for addressing this vital aspect of leadership!🌸💪

A healthy and fit Leader can lead better. There's no doubt in it. As physical health is vital. Awareness about biases, limiting beliefs and working on them can make a future Leader healthier. Knowledge about own emotional regulation and helping others by leading with example.

📣 A resilient leader is a part of a dynamic team! 📣 Curating a supportive #network is the foundation of #resilience without overwhelm! It is critical that #leaders learn how to leverage #colleagues, #mentors, #sponsors, & #allies for sustained success. We must all remember that #leadership is a team sport and #exceptional #leaders understand that it takes a team with a growth #mindset to move forward! #LeadLoudly #bold #confident #fearless #leadership #mindset #skillset #vision

As a resilient leader, we must have a strong support network. This includes our personal board of advisors and mentors. It is also important that we continue to invest in learning and development.

In my book It's Your Time to Shine Girl I devote an entire chapter to cultivating a Success Squad because of the importance of having support, community and accountability by those we surround ourselves with. And an important outcome is that it does help us get perspectives, advice, and feedback which allows us to be more resilient as we encounter challenges.

Building a support network takes time and effort, but it's a worthwhile investment. A strong support network will help you to navigate the challenges of leadership and achieve your goals. 🤝 Here are a few tips for building a support network: Identify your needs. What kind of support do you need? Do you need someone to listen to you vent? Do you need someone to give you advice? Find the right people. Look for people who you trust and who make you feel good about yourself. Put yourself out there. Attend networking events, join professional organizations, and connect with people on LinkedIn. Be supportive of others. Give as much as you receive

I have found it helpful to get support from a mastermind group. They hold me accountable and call me out on my stuff. Their advice and guidance is invaluable.

Yes, you do not have to experience things that have already been. Trust in what they said they have learned. This can work for those negative experience or stories too. So, if you have had that difficult manager...learn what not to do. This is part of the Cultivate a growth mindset. If needed, research to find the stories that fit and resonate with you.

Learning from others is an essential part of being a resilient leader. It's how you grow and develop as a leader. It's also how you stay ahead of the curve and navigate the challenges of the ever-changing business world. Be curious. Ask questions and be open to new ideas. Be humble. No one knows everything. Be willing to admit when you don't know something and ask for help. Be grateful. Thank others for their time and insights.

You can learn a lot from other leaders who have faced adversity. Their stories and wisdom provide valuable perspectives. However, while external role models can motivate and inspire us, the most empowering resilience comes from within. More than simply modelling others, the most extraordinary resilience is cultivated through self-discovery. By looking inward, getting to know our deepest values, strengths and purpose, we can build an inner compass to navigate life's challenges. Rather than reacting, we respond from a place of self-awareness. So yes, learn from resilient leaders or without. But also learn from yourself or within.

I would recommend seeking out communities of like-minded professionals. We have had amazing folks start a Customer Success Operations leadership Slack channel which has been a sounding board, promotes dialogue with others who are going through similar challenges, and gives us a place to share best practices. The shared wisdom and experience in the community really drives learning that builds resilience and helps all of us grow.

We can learn from others' experiences as well as our own experiences of handling challenging situations in the past. Learning from others helps us be confident and better prepared for adversity. Learning from others helps us find new ways to solve problems.

Adaptability is intrinsically linked to resilience. A leader who is adaptable can not only recover from setbacks more quickly but can also pivot and find new avenues of opportunity in the face of challenges. Adaptability ensures that leaders, and by extension their organizations, remain relevant, efficient, and effective regardless of external changes. Adaptability is more than just reacting to change; it's about anticipating, preparing for, and leveraging change for growth. Resilient leaders understand that the only constant is change itself, and they equip themselves and their organizations to navigate it successfully.

I think that being resilient isn't bouncing back to the same old way. It's more about the ability to bounce forward. As mentioned, change is going to happen. Regardless if you are prepared, you will experience stress during change. If you manage your stress during times of change, this will help you bounce forward. The more you do this, the more resilient you will become.

Great leaders demonstrate boundless faith in their team's shared vision, their mission, and those whom they serve. They perpetuate a culture of success across their teams. They don’t fear failure; they only fear the failure to try. Great leaders always have high expectations, set seemingly impossible goals, achieve them, and then aim higher. They are relentless in their pursuit of excellence, but they don’t seek perfection. In all they do, the best leaders inspire impact.

Change is the one thing that is consistent; it is new and humans do not like the unknown. Our perception is our truth and not always true. Viewing change as an experiment is dynamic because you document, communicate and adjust. Changing your perception on change (pun intended) will assist in approaching them with stride.

Share a compelling, clear purpose: Purpose is the guardrail for actions. Change agility requires an answer to the question “Why?”, so that people can fight the natural instinct to resist change. The answer needs to tap into what’s meaningful and important, providing an irresistible invitation to come along. If you can’t articulate a clear purpose behind the changes being made, it’s unlikely that your employees will be able to implement them

Remember, resilience isn't just about enduring hard times; it's about growing and thriving as a result of them. By integrating these principles into your leadership style, you can navigate challenges more effectively and inspire those around you to do the same.

Resilient leadership involves: 1. Self-awareness Understand emotions, strengths, and reactions. 2. Embrace Change Adapt and use change to your advantage. 3. Continuous Learning Have a growth mindset; learn from experiences. 4. Build Relationships: Cultivate a supportive network for varied perspectives. 5. Optimism Keep a positive outlook to inspire others. 6. Self-Care Maintain physical and mental health through balance and rest. 7. Set Boundaries Differentiate between work and personal time. 8. Seek Feedback Continually refine your leadership based on input. 9. Empower Others Trust and delegate to foster team resilience. 10. Reflect Assess challenges and decisions for growth. These strategies will better equip you to build resilience.

Inspire and care for others. While you are cultivating your own network, growth mindset, and resilience values, share your experiences and strengths with your team, specially those that are going through change and adaptation. Set valuable examples of how you are coping with transformation, and socialize tools that have been helpful, in ways that aid your people to relate and feel that you are growing and adjusting as a team. Establish an open mentoring and communication environment, in which everybody feels that they can constructively share their challenges, and benefit from common advice and experiences.

Being a resilient leader is like being the captain of a ship in a storm. It's not just steering through rough waters, but reassuring the crew, adapting to change, and seeing opportunities in challenges. Resilience is built on empathy, flexibility, and an unwavering belief that even the toughest storms pass. It's about leading with both the mind and the heart, always moving forward.

Striving to be authentic, building persistence, learning how to manage your emotional responses, improving creativity and decision making all help to build your resilience. Check out the toolkit in wabisugi - the art of resilience in everyday warriors.