ABC's Of Leadership - R Is For Resilient
By E. Elizabeth Carter
Submitted On March 16, 2018
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Expert Author E. Elizabeth Carter
Resilient leaders are the ones that can bounce back after being faced with a difficult challenge. These challenges could occur from a downturn in the economy, a defective product, bad customer experiences, or possibly unsustainable profitability. The key to a leader being resilient is to recognize that the situation is most likely temporary and to focus on the positives, if any.
It is critical that resilient leaders try to acknowledge what is going right within the company because this positive attitude will then funnel through the whole organization. When a leader instead shows fear or negativity, morale will usually go down and fear creeps in. This in turn will negatively impact productivity. The expression "fake it till you make it" may seem very rudimentary but by exuding a more upbeat persona when faced with a dilemma, the leader shows his or her confident side which makes his or her employees feel more encouraged.
Resilient leaders do see these challenging times as opportunities to try new things. It may be that there were projects that had been shelved in the past due to lack of time or resources but can now be revisited. This is also a good time for organizational changes (not necessarily layoffs but shifting employees and providing more training to those who need it) and streamlining processes. More time and patience can be given to these initiatives now that will benefit the organization in the long run.
During these tough times, self-care is important for leaders and is often overlooked by them. When anyone is handling a tough situation, bad habits like over-eating or drinking too much can occur. It is imperative that everyone, especially leaders, make time to take care of themselves. This is not just about exercising but also focusing on emotional and possibly spiritual self-care. Many people also have a tendency to withdraw from others and/or not admit that they are facing a tough situation. Being active in the community and family life can be good outlets too.
Think back to a time when you saw a company flounder. How did the CEO and other senior leaders in the company react to this difficult situation? If they demonstrated resiliency, how is the company doing today? What lessons can you learn from this example and use in your own company or situation?
Other "R" words to ponder - risk, relationship, reality, reward, responsibility, and resourceful.