Resilience is the New Competitive Advantage—Is Your Leadership Ready?

“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”

While we all have some level of resilience, very few of us ever consider the need to develop resilience. Surely we’re strong enough, right?

Sadly not.

According to the 2024 National Resilience Index Report, 9 in 10 people fall below the protective resilience threshold, making them more vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and mental health issues.

For leaders, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Why Resilience Matters Now More Than Ever?

Resilience is not a luxury – it is a necessity.

Many thought moving past COVID-19 would be a relief, though ongoing challenges like economic disruptions, climate change, and geopolitical tensions have continued to remind us of the importance of resilience in helping individuals and communities cope with uncertainty and adversity.

The findings of the National Resilience Index are a wake-up call for all of us.

Whether it's formal training programs, creating meaningful connections, or prioritising our physical and mental health, we all have a role to play in creating the change needed.

Resilience: A Leadership Imperative in 2024

Resilience is not just about survival; it is about thriving in the face of adversity and maintaining a sense of purpose and hope when faced with challenges.

Employees who are resilient don’t just help themselves, they help others — they enable them to grow stronger, more agile, and more competitive in the face of uncertainty.

The Six Pillars of Resilience: Building Strong Leadership

The Predictive 6 Factor Resilience (PR6) model, which is central to the National Resilience Index, outlines six key domains that contribute to overall resilience:

1. Vision – Resilient leaders have a clear sense of purpose and goals, ensuring their teams stay focused even when uncertainty looms. Vision isn’t just about seeing the path forward—it’s about aligning your team’s actions with long-term objectives, no matter how turbulent the present may be.
2. Composure – In times of stress, leaders must remain emotionally grounded. The ability to manage stress, stay calm under pressure, and regulate emotions are all markers of resilient leadership.
3. Reasoning – Problem-solving is a core skill for any leader, but it becomes especially critical in uncertain times. Leaders who are resilient can anticipate challenges, plan ahead, and make decisions based on sound judgment, even when the path forward isn’t clear.
4. Health – Our physical health - including sleep, nutrition and movement - underpin our mental toughness and resilience. Leaders who prioritise their health, model healthy behaviours.
5. Tenacity – Resilient leaders possess realistic optimism - they have the ability to stay motivated and progress towards their goals despite obstacles. They understand that setbacks are inevitable but they possess grit and persistence to overcome them.
6. Collaboration – Finally, resilient leaders build strong networks of support. They foster collaboration within their teams, encouraging open communication and trust. In times of crisis, people who can unite others and encourage mutual support will see their organisations emerge stronger.

The Business Case for Resilience: From Languishing to Thriving

• 1.8 fewer sick days: Reduction in absenteeism after implementing wellness programs.
• 2.1 fewer days lost: Decrease in presenteeism after wellness program implementation, resulting in savings of $1,012 per employee.
• 4% increase: Performance improvement with higher resilience, leading to a productivity increase valued at $1,584 per employee.
• 83% higher job satisfaction: Reported by employees with higher resilience, resulting in better retention and engagement.
• $6,152 per employee: Potential return from investing in workforce resilience and wellness programs, covering reduced absenteeism, improved performance, and better retention.

While in high-pressure professions, such as healthcare, emergency services, and defense, resilient leadership is particularly crucial, the economic conditions, restructures and rapid developments in technology and hybrid-ways of working are hitting the broader workforce.

How Can You Future-Proof Your Organisation?

Resilience is no longer an option —it is a strategic necessity.

Organisational investment efforts can include:

1. Management Training - Specifically focusing on helping managers and supervisors understand how to build an environment that supports resilience, reducing psychosocial hazards, improving language skills, and understanding the challenges of staff. High Adversity Resilience Training (HART) and Resilience First Aid (RFA) are crucial skills to build in this layer
2. Leadership Training - Learn how to design a culture of resilience and what program elements to support to achieve successful implementation (part of HART)
3. Company Dashboards and Assessments - Conducting broader surveys across the entire workforce are now more affordable and accessible helping you get the clarity you need to go beyond a great idea to taking practical, habit-building, brain-based action.

Are You Ready To Invest in Resilient Leadership?

Let’s discuss the findings and how they can shape your strategy. More importantly, lets present the findings to your teams - "give them a fish and you feed them for a day, teach them how to fish and you feed them for life!"

I look forward to connecting,

Kylee

Book a meeting here.