Resilient Leadership

Resiliency is another one of those words we like to use in our world. We make a lot of assumptions with a wide range of understandings and beliefs of what it takes to strive to be resilient. We like to say that it’s the result of life events and experiences. Often we treat resiliency as a have or have not. One thing is for sure and that is ones degree resiliency to stress, adversity, anxiety and even forms of depression will translate to their level of performance and not vice-versa. Being and stay as resilient as one can precedes individual and team performance.

Research and experience will tell you that resiliency occurs in degrees. While we become resilient through our accumulation of life events (by chance or intent), how we cope with those events has a big impact on building up our resiliency reserves. These are the reserves (our well) that fuel our ability to get through difficult moments as well as prepare ourselves most effectively in advance

Therefore, resiliency looks more like this: Life events + coping skills and methods.

A resilient leader trains her or him self using proven coping skills. They mentally condition themselves in advance to prepare for the adverse or stressful moments. This applies in business, athletics, education and ministry. A resilient leader not just puts her/his people in challenging situations to condition them and gain experience. That’s easy to do. Resilient leadership trains their people in the methods. They given them “reps”, training on the methods and feedback.

Here is a short, but proven list of principles a resilient leader must focus on:

Maintain a consistently positive mindset for themselves and their team. Keep your ratio of positive to negative above 5 to 1.

Know and use ones character strengths. Ensure the team is clear on how to use theirs. I can provide you a proven assessment tool vs. the “google” version of what character means.

Manage your emotions, which starts with managing your thoughts and beliefs. Again this is all teachable to your team.

Be passionate about what you and your team are focused on and stay focused on it. Stay immersed and in the zone.

Build positive relationships and reinforce your beliefs and caring for each other. Put the past behind you. Forgive.

Have intrinsic meaning and extrinsic purpose in all you and your team do.

Have a thoughtful plan to work through the missions obstacles. Celebrate and savor the accomplishments, however small.

Focus in those areas consistently and you will fuel your and your teams resiliency reserves. Reach out if you need more.