Did you know that one of a leader’s most important qualities is being resilient? Recent research reveals that a resilient leader is viewed as the most effective leader and valued by their managers and peers. Firms with resilient leaders survive and thrive in the face of change and uncertainty.
The resilient leader
In today’s cutthroat competition, while leaders continue to get barraged with roadblocks and let-downs, organizations and management have no choice but to understand why do leaders need to be resilient and take a closer look at resilience in their organizations.
Resilience at its core is the sustained effort to survive, adapt and thrive in times of hardship, uncertainty and change. A leader ranking high on resilience remains optimistic and mission oriented. He or she knows how to recover from setbacks and strong-arms the business with their ability to bounce back quickly from any kind of change, stagnation or even misfortune. Resilient leaders respond instead of reacting and bolster their businesses by tapping into their confidence, optimism and the ability to adapt.
After all! The true grit of a leader is not how they perform while the business is booming with a constant stream of revenue. Instead it is shown in how they display their emotional strength, competence and professionalism when faced with an upheaval or a setback.
Characteristics of a resilient leader
The journey towards answering questions like why do leaders need to be resilient starts with understanding what resilience among leaders looks like. To answer this, leading HR professionals and business gurus have identified the following characteristics of a resilient leader:
- A resilient leader always invests in their relationships (both personal and professional) and displays an aura of empathy.
- They strive to communicate effectively and work towards building genuine trust-based relationships.
- They possess a rather agile and optimistic way of thinking with a continuous focus on personal growth and never stopping learning.
- Resilient leaders develop healthy habits both inside and outside their workplace.
- Resilient leaders effectively communicate, collaborate and influence their teams.
- They constantly strive to mitigate any kind of disruptions and are willing to persevere when faced with challenges.
- They have strong coping strategies in place and are committed to proactive stress management.
- Resilient leaders understand the importance of and frequently utilize various coaching and development resources to build their teams.
Three tips for becoming a more resilient leader?
Mastering the art of communication
One key area to work on to become a more resilient leader is your communication skills. Resilient leaders are known to communicate powerfully. This includes communicating one’s intentions and expectations and helping their teams understand the new strategy or direction in which the leader is trying to lead his team.
Being open to receiving feedback
A positive approach to receiving feedback is another trait one should work on to be more resilient. Leaders who are humble and coachable and have a strong desire to continuously work on improving their skills are usually open to receiving feedback. The feedback received plays a pivotal role in helping leaders realize their shortcomings and make a real effort toward mitigating them.
Recognizing the importance of building trust among teams
Another key quality common amongst resilient leaders is their ability to build strong, trusting relationships. A resilient leader knows that no two individuals working in his team are the same. They are open to differences and accept them wholeheartedly, all while building trust and positive relationships with the team.
In conclusion
So now that you are aware of what resilience looks like and why leaders need to be resilient, as a leader, it is your job to set aside some time to self-reflect and review whether you possess this quality or not. Luckily resilience is one of those few traits that can be learned over time. All it takes is a little bit of patience and the zeal to work on yourself both in and out of the workplace. Remember! in today’s turbulent environment, businesses need resilient leaders more than ever to weather any inevitable storms and bring about a generous helping of creativity and imaginative solutions for the problems at hand.
