In the world of business, it is important to be able to bounce back or adapt to major changes in order to remain successful, which was once believed could be done simply by practicing the art of resilience during major crises. However, recent research posted in the Harvard Business Review suggests that since change is a constant in business, leaders need to have an ongoing resilience in order to meet these ever-present challenges, which after interviewing more than 100 leaders, the article found can be done with the simple act of knowing themselves.
When building ongoing resilience as a leader, according to the article, there are at least four ways to do so, which include:
Consider the Skills You Have That Prepared You for The Challenge as Well as Where You Need Help
When faced with challenges, it is important for leaders to recognize and put to use any experience they have that has readied them for the matter at hand. They should also acknowledge their shortfalls and then enlist the skills of others in order to address the issue as fully as possible.
Resilient Leaders Know how to Manage Stress
Nothing makes a leader appear more incompetent than when they are unaware of their behavior, which means during periods of increased stress, they are more prone to take their irritabilities out on others, which in turn can weaken the organization’s strength. On the other hand, leaders with a keen knowledge of themselves are more likely to redirect their frustration into other things that they can control, so they avoid hurting others.
Resilient Leaders Have no Problem Renegotiating Unrealistic Expectations
In business, occasionally, unattainable goals are set by top management, which can put undue stress on lower management as a result of being unable to meet the goal, which in turn can drain the organization of longevity. Frequently, these far-fetched goals are set by leaders who lack self-awareness, in which case they may simply pass the burden onto their subordinates. However, leaders with a strong sense of self are usually at ease with presenting the hard facts for why these expectations are unreasonable in an effort to avoid letting the company down.
Resilient Leaders Avoid the “Autopilot” Approach to Problem-Solving
When faced with the pressure of meeting challenges, some leaders simply resort to a default approach, which may be inappropriate for the situation. Instead, leaders should be heedful of their “autopilot” approach and alternatively seek to discover a new approach to each challenge, which will help keep the organization moving ahead.
Ultimately, leaders who strengthen their own resilience also often strengthen their organization’s resilience as well, which can help them face their challenges and maintain sustainability through adversity and change.