Building Resilience as a Leader
Posted on 4th October 2024 at 08:33
Great leaders have many great qualities, but one that stands out – and that often takes the most work – is resilience.
Building your resilience as a leader is essential. By that, I don’t mean the old-fashioned stiff upper lip, toughen-up sort of resilience – that can have more detriment to your mental health than anything – I mean the ability to look your challenges in the face, and deal with them positively. Easier said than done; but a vital skill to value and to grow, especially in an executive role.
When you’ve built up robust resilience, you not just better equipped to navigate through crises and setbacks; but even better, you can thrive on them. It’s not about avoiding challenges, but about successfully overcoming them, and emerging even stronger than you were before. Here are some Haus of Coaching tips and strategies to help you bolster that resilience, turn challenges into positives, and bring your teams along with you as well.
Change the Narrative
Successfully navigating different times is all about attitude. Get it right, and the whole process will be far less exhausting. Change what you tell yourself about a challenge when it arises – it’s not just catastrophe and damage limitation (no doubt there will be some of that), but it’s an opportunity to learn and grow as well. Leaders with this more positive ‘growth mindset’ see failures and setbacks as part of the journey to success, and not just obstacles set to derail or expose them – and that is a crucial element of how they navigate their way past them successfully.
Resilient leaders will ask themselves, "What can I learn from this?" rather than "Why did this happen to me?". This shift in narrative and your internal perspective will transform how you approach issues, and enhance your resilience for dealing with the next one.
Foster Stronger Relationships
Having a support network is vital for changing that narrative, and strengthening your resilience overall as well. Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you, both personally and professionally. Building strong, honest and open relationships with colleagues, mentors, friends, and family can provide a solid foundation of support when times get tough.
Don’t hesitate to lean on others for advice, perspective, and encouragement. Resilience isn’t about going it alone; it’s about recognising when you need help, and being willing and able to ask for it.
Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. A well-developed EI allows you to stay calm under pressure, empathise with your team, and navigate the emotional complexities of leadership with grace. Enhance yours with active listening, an honest look at how you come across to others, and making a conscious effort to respond to difficult situations with measured consideration rather than emotion.
Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
Be patient and reasonable with yourself (and your team as well). Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and burnout. Break down your larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate the progress you make along the way. By setting achievable goals, you create a sense of accomplishment and momentum, which can bolster your resilience in the long run.
Prioritise Self-Care
You can’t pour from an empty cup, and taking care of yourself is fundamental to building resilience. As a leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of responsibilities and neglect your own well-being. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle—regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and mindfulness practices—can significantly impact your ability to cope with stress and bounce back from setbacks. It really can – trust me!
Learn to Manage Your Stress
Click on this text to edit it.Knowing your stress triggers means you can develop strategies to manage them – it’s as simple as that. This could include tricks or managing your time better when stresses hit, delegating some of your jobs to others, or simply taking regular breaks to recharge. Deep breathing, meditation and mindfulness can also help you stay centred and calm in the face of pressure. Knowing what to do when you feel those stress niggles start is half the battle to neutralising them.
Reflect and Learn
Resilient leaders take time to reflect on their experiences and learn from them. When the dust has settled, think objectively about what happened, how you handled it, and what you could do differently next time. If you’re honest, this reflective practice can provide valuable insights and help you improve your approach to future challenges. Journaling is another helpful tool at this stage: getting your thoughts and experiences down is a great way to exorcise the experience, and gives you some very useful material to refer back to in the future.
Resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about bouncing back stronger from them. Building it up as a leader is an ongoing quest – but the more you build it, the easier it will come to you. Robust resilience strengthens your ability to navigate through adversity, inspire your team, and lead with confidence – all essential ingredients for organisational success.
If you’d like to build your own resilience, or create a strategy for supporting your management team with it, Haus of Coaching can help. Contact us today for your bespoke plan.
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