Leading an organization or team throws multiple challenges at you. From dealing with difficult people, to making life-changing decisions, and making mistakes, leadership requires you to be resilient.
If you can’t bounce back from the challenges thrown your way, you won’t last long as a leader. We don’t want that. Neither do you!
So, how do you build resilience as a leader? It’s not easy, but you can do it.
Photo by Karim MANJRA on Unsplash
5 Strategies For Thriving In The Face Of Adversity (Or How To Build Resilience)
You may not feel confident enough to build your resilience, but you can. Even when you lack the resilience you need to keep going in your daily tasks, you can apply some of what you do have to build more.
It seems counterintuitive, but you can. Now, let’s dive into the strategies to help you become more resilient.
1. Take on challenges bigger than you:
Resilience happens when you begin to stretch yourself past what you believe you can do. That’s what resilience is all about.
The first step to building more resilience is to take a look at what you’re doing and then stretching yourself. Take on a challenging assignment within your organization, say yes to one more thing, or begin working on that memoir you always wanted to write.
Then do it. Take the small steps to build upon what you’re already doing.
Take enough baby steps and you’ll find yourself doing the big things you have always wanted to do but didn’t have the confidence to do.
Case in point: I never thought I’d write a blog post, let alone 15 years’ worth of blogging. But here I am. I took one little step that stretched me and my resilience for writing continues to grow daily.
What could you do if you decided to stretch yourself today?
2. Get an accountability partner:
An accountability partner is someone who holds you accountable to do what you’ve said you’re going to do. This person is someone you trust and count on.
To build your resilience, find an accountability partner who will ask you the tough questions of whether or not you’re challenging yourself and how you’re getting back up from being knocked down.
This person will have your best interests at heart, so don’t get mad at them when they push back. This person is going to be the rock that helps you become a powerhouse of getting things done.
3. Find ways to cope with your challenges:
Too many leaders don’t have an outlet to cope with their challenges. They keep piling them on without letting go of them. There are many ways you can find to cope with your challenges. They could include:
- Taking a retreat
- Talking to a close confidant
- Exercising
- Journaling
- Mediation
- Prayer
- And more
Don’t let your challenges overwhelm you. Find a coping mechanism that will get you through those challenging times.
4. Put things into perspective:
Too often, we catastrophize the situation we’re in. We can’t see past today.
In reality, today’s problems are yesterday’s worries that don’t impact us long-term. Learn to look at a situation in the long term.
Many of the situations we’ve fretted about had no impact five years from when we experienced it. Don’t let today’s problems stop you from changing the world tomorrow.
5. Be kind to yourself:
The last thing I want to say is that you need to be kind to yourself. Stop beating yourself up over failures and setbacks.
None of these things are final. They’re stepping stones for what is to come.
By showing yourself kindness, you show yourself that there’s always a next time or next try. Be as kind to yourself as you can be.
Resilience Is The Key To Leadership
By building your resilience, you build yourself up for the long-term run of leadership. You learn that you can bounce back from difficulties and setbacks.
Use the tips and tricks above to build your resilience and unlock the door to leadership. Remember, resilience is the key to leading well.
