Building your leadership resilience
Building your leadership resilience
This past weekend I was blessed to witness an amazing test of resilience. Few things can test a person’s ability to stick through challenges and navigate obstacles like competitive sports. Watching the athletes cross the finish line in the excruciating heat of the Karoo, I was astonished by the absolute grit they showed to see it through (especially as most of them were suffering from intense muscle cramps). It got me thinking about what it takes to show up and see things through as a leader. Last week we spoke about the experience leaders should aim to create. This week we are going to focus a little more on what we as leaders need to be able to create that experience.
Let’s acknowledge that in life, as in leadership, we have very little control over what might happen. As leaders, we are often faced with unexpected challenges. This can make being a leader challenging no matter whether you are a seasoned leader or a newbie. As Aimee Mullins states so eloquently “The question isn’t whether you are going to meet adversity, but how you are going to meet it”. Being able to respond to situations with realistic optimism and resilience is a leadership power tool. But what is resilience, and how does it help us show up better as leaders?
Resilience is the ability to get back at it when you are knocked down, fail or suffer disappointment. Being knocked down as a leader could come in a variety of shapes and forms: personal or health issues, interpersonal or relational setbacks, and business and economic challenges. Add to the list whatever you can think of – essentially anything that puts you on the back foot. The thing is, leaders, don’t have the luxury of giving up when they are faced with challenges or adversity. But how we choose to show up under these circumstances can make the biggest difference in getting others to believe in us and build with us. This is why we need to build our level of resilience as leaders.
I think one of the biggest challenges leaders may encounter is maintaining their confidence in the face of adversity. It is easy to think that we can’t do it, that we don’t have what it takes – especially when we are responsible for a team or group of people who rely on us to lead the way. If you don’t believe something is possible, how can you expect anyone else to? We need to believe in ourselves – especially when the odds are stacked against us. It is so important that we learn to sort through and audit what we say and believe about ourselves and learn to ignore what isn’t helpful or useful. If you have doubts or concerns, sit with people you trust and rationally evaluate them. And if you can do something about the situation – DO IT.
Once you have that belief in your ability and your team, I would say the next step is a change in mindset when we encounter challenges. When life gives you a truckload of lemons, look for the opportunity hidden among them. We have spoken about this in our other articles focused on resilience. But as a leader, we can become so fixated on the original vision that we contribute to our ruin. Blackberry’s founders refused to see how the needs and wants of the market had shifted because they got stuck on what brought them success in the first place. Adaptability is an enormous part of resilience – trying harder will only get you so far. Sometimes what is needed is a change in direction. Being flexible enough to change our minds, our direction or our plans is vital to being a leader in our fast-paced constantly changing environment.
Lastly remember, leadership is a privilege and it should not be easy. When you can go back to the beginning of your leadership journey and identify your true motivations for taking on the challenge it will renew your hope, compassion and the ability to push through the pain.
The cool thing about resilience is that it is a muscle anybody can build. It’s not something you inherently have or not – rather it is something you cultivate. Take some time to think about the topics outlined above and where you need to invest some added effort. Remember, all of these points also apply to life outside of work.
If you are having a difficult time trying to stay in your own lane and set healthy habits to avoid the downside of comparison, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
