Resilience: The Most Essential Leadership Skill

So many articles and posts start with the same acknowledgment that everything is moving quickly and rapidly changing. Just this week, how many articles or posts have you seen that include  “in today’s fast-paced” and “ever-changing business environment” in the first sentence? It is the norm and that isn’t changing.

And yet, I haven’t seen enough focus on developing resilience. 

Whether you are an individual leading yourself or you are leading a team of people, resilience is the most essential skill you need. You need to be able to anticipate setbacks (and there will be setbacks, no matter how brilliant your strategy and execution plans are). You need to be able to bounce back from these setbacks and adapt to new circumstances. And you must have the ability to maintain your composure in the face of adversity, creating some steadiness in the midst of chaos. 

You are the captain of the ship, right? And there will be storms that come, push us off course, toss us around and can leave everyone feeling a little nauseated at times. 

How effective would a captain be if he didn’t anticipate any of these storms? If he didn’t have a plan to get the ship stable and back on course? And if the captain is freaking out, how well are they and the crew functioning? How can you get back onto the charted path without a plan, just running around in a tizzy? Or if you just retreat to your quarters just waiting out the storm?  

Resilience is an essential skill we all need so we can chart a course and safely make it through the sometimes choppy and uncharted waters. It is the only way we can discover new lands territories. 

But what is resilience and how can we develop it? 

Understanding Resilience

Resilience isn’t just about enduring and making it through hardship. It is about emerging stronger and wiser each and every time. 

Resilience requires us to: 

• create and communicate a clear vision.

• consider and anticipate challenges we may face. 

• develop a plan for overcoming challenges when they arise.

• develop and prepare the team members so they have the skills to work through obstacles.

• lead with a steady confidence during difficult times, maintaining a positive outlook.

  
  

Resilient leaders are those who can navigate through crises, learn from failures, and adapt to new realities without losing sight of their goals.

How to Cultivate Resilience

1. Have a Captain’s Mindset: The storms are inevitable. You might as well learn to embrace each of these challenges as an opportunity. I mean, dreading and stressing about them isn’t going to do anything anyway. So look for the storms. Prepare for them. And when they come see them for what they are…an incredible gift. These are the biggest opportunities you will have to learn and develop. 

2. Set a Course: Effective leaders create a clear vision, with a clear sense of purpose, and ensure every member of the team understands the part they play in achieving it. Where are you going? Why are you going there? This clarity for you and your team, if you manage people, will provide focus when things get turbulent. 

3. Plan for the Storms: Considering your course, what storms might you encounter? And when you encounter them, how will you respond? When you run aground or the vessel is damaged, what will you do? What internal and external factors could impact your progress?

Bonus Tip: Ask your network or team. Their perspective allows them to consider things you may not.

4. Know Yourself and Your Crew: Resilient leaders are self-aware. They understand their own strengths and limitations. They develop tools to manage their emotions, especially during crises. They also understand and value their crew. Practice empathy, maintain open communication and be attuned to the needs of your team. Challenging situations can be stressful for everyone. Be the leader who is able to manage their stress and help minimize the stress for their team. 

5. Build Strong Relationships: There are times when you will need the assistance of other captains and there will be times when you can assist them. Foster a supportive network both inside and outside your fleet. When things are hard, your network can be a sounding board. If you need to vent, this is who you vent to- NOT YOUR TEAM. Your network can help provide diverse perspectives that can help you navigate challenging times. Bonus benefit: they can also help advocate for you. 

6. Stay Fluid: It is important to stay focused and committed to the course you have charted, but you also have to be adaptable.  Be open to change and ready to pivot when necessary. Keep your head up and eyes open so you stay aware of new information and changing circumstances. Lead by example. When things change, using the vision as the guiding light, be flexible and adjust plans as needed. And don’t forget to share with the team why you are making the adjustment so they learn from you.  

7. Reflect on the Journey: Each journey is going to have times of smooth sailing and times of turbulent storms. You will likely follow your charted path much of the journey, but veer off course at times to avoid obstacles. The journey as a whole is rich with lessons. Learn from them. What worked well? What challenges did you anticipate accurately? Which ones surprised you? Which storms did you navigate through effectively? What decisions could have been better? What might you do differently next time? Seek feedback from peers and team members. If you are going to go through these challenges, might as well get everything out of them you can so you can use all that you gain next time a challenge arises. 

Resilience isn’t something you have or don’t. It is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. Building your resilience is essential for sustained success in an unpredictable world. 

And if you are looking to grow your career, being a leader that can effectively lead a team through any storm and come out stronger will set you apart from others. 

It's not the absence of storms that makes a great captain, but the ability to safely navigate through it that does. 

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