5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership

1. 5 Steps for More Resilient 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership Leadership

2. Introduction Introduction • Being a resilient leader means that you have the ability to maintain vigorunder stressful situations and cope with disruptive changes. • This characteristic of leadership allows a person to quickly recover from failures or roadblocks without harming others or showing unacceptable behaviors. • However, it's not that easy to develop resilient leadership. • Here are 5 steps to becoming a more resilient leader:

3. 1 1. Be open to change . Be open to change • A resilient leader should be open to change and is willing to lead the team to facilitate change. • Even if certain strategies are proven to be effective in the past, there may come a time when you need to adapt to change for the better. • Because of this, a leader should be open to implementing new strategies, processes and workflows and dare to spearhead the process. • Being able to adapt to the ever-changing landscape is an important part of being a resilient leader. 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership 3

4. 2 2. . Learn to cope with stress Learn to cope with stress How well you can cope with stress determines how resilient you are as a leader. Stress in itself is not harmful. The body's normal response which includes fast breathing and a pounding heart helps the body prepare for a "threat" and is an integral part of a fight or flight response. There are different ways on how you can cope with stress. To be a resilient leader, you must learn to discover the most effective coping mechanism for your situation. Common coping strategies include the following: • Creating clear and specific goals • Modifying negative personality patterns • Employing physical activities • Voicing out worries and concerns • Learning to let go • Building positive relationships with your team members • Seeking support 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership 4

5. 3. Build social connections 3. Build social connections • As a leader, there a numerous benefits to having social connections. For one, the people you know can help achieve your goals and help you navigate through challenging situations. • These people can also help you develop the right leadership skills to be a resilient leader. • Moreover, there are also mental benefits to having the right people in your circle. Studies show that positive social connections lower the rates of depression and anxiety and improve self-esteem and empathy. • All these attributes point out good leadership characteristics. 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership 5

6. 4 4. Develop a positive mindset . Develop a positive mindset • Having a positive mindset is also key to resilience. • Amidst bad situations, a person with a positive mindset chooses to stay positive, calm and optimistic that something good will happen. Of course, the outcome is still dependent on your actions, and a resilient leader knows this. • A resilient leader is optimistic though he does not ignore the possibility of failure. He considers failure as a learning opportunity and moves on. • Setbacks are inevitable, but being optimistic allows a leader to properly strategize and plan to achieve the desired outcome. 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership 6

7. 5 5. Engage in physical activities . Engage in physical activities • Regular exercise and physical activities help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and boost the body's immune system while simultaneously helping you become a resilient and effective leader. Research shows that leaders who are physically fit are also more effective in the workplace because they can better cope with the demands of their position. • There are exercises that aren't time-consuming, and shorter multiple physical activities can be as effective as longer exercises. You can browse videos online for some ideas on exercises that you can do in your busy schedule. • Developing the characteristics of a resilient leader can take time. At Change Works, we can help you get started with our one-day program that focuses on becoming a resilient leader. This program covers topics such as the resilience myth, defining your leadership purpose and values, managing stress, and developing resilience. It is a highly interactive and engaging program that will help leaders and future leaders develop resilience. 5 Steps for More Resilient Leadership 7