Resilience: The leadership superpower

Grant Difford explains what it takes to become a resilient business leader. It requires commitment and it requires change –
so the question is: are you ready?

Every day most business leaders have to wrestle with ever growing demands on their time and mental capacity. Many of those demands can be supported by one of the millions of tools that are readily available. 

But there is one tool that you can’t buy, can’t borrow, and you certainly can’t fast track. 

That’s resilience.

To me resilience can be earned, but it can’t be taught. The reason being is that the ability to be resilient is the ability to move forward no matter the circumstances. But this is where we need to be careful. It is not about blindly moving forward, but to have awareness of the process you are going through and the affect it is having on you and your business.

The more documented narrative around resilience is having robust business systems, backups, runways of funding – but that doesn’t talk to the needs of the leader. Without great leadership, those systems are just what they are, systems.

In sports situations we look to instances where through adversity an athlete overcomes. This often comes from the ultimate desire to succeed no matter the challenges. And that’s a critical point of resilience – no matter the challenges, not at any cost.

So, this begs the question, “Am I resilient enough to cope with what lies ahead?”

I would love to say yes, but the reality is that sometimes it is easier to give up, than to move through the discomfort and enter a new paradigm. I believe to become an increasingly resilient leader you have to choose to step into the discomfort, own it and learn from it. 

In my experience resilience is closely supported by a sense of purpose, direction in your life and business. Beyond the revenue, the awards and the kudos, it’s something that moves you and provides a guiding light when the skies cloud over.

The conflict often comes when I pose this to business owners, in that they believe they are there to deliver a service, pay the bills and hopefully, yes hopefully, there is a little left to enjoy the fruits of their labour. 

But is this really enough?

Do all of the challenges, the stress, the mental health, compliance, long hours, etcetera, really make it all worthwhile for cash in the bank? 

Not according to the new workforce. They want to know they are working with, and for, companies that are doing the right thing – providing fulfilling environments for them to grow and thrive while doing something they enjoy.

Why should leadership be any different? If we are making that commitment to ourselves and our families, why are we not protecting ourselves from those gloomy skies? 

Yes, be positive. Yes, look on the bright side of things. But that can take a lot of mental energy that can run out.

Money vs energy

In the early stage of business it is often quoted that businesses fail because they run out of money. But in fact, other studies claim that founders actually run out of energy, it all gets too hard. That doesn’t take into account those businesses that were never destined to succeed for one reason or another. 

And those with creative ideas and business will still run into situations that challenge the best of us.

It’s hard, I get that, but how can we reduce that risk of failure, of mental health risks, broken families and lost fortunes?
I believe it’s about having something that’s worth fighting for; something that moves you; something, as they say, you would do for free it you had to.

You won’t find in it your business plan – but, and it is a bit cheesy, you will find it in your heart. Because if you are connected to an unwavering purpose as a leader, you reduce the risks considerably.

How can you build resilience today?

1. Ask yourself; am I going through the motions or am I heading somewhere important? (Financial freedom, more time with family, help the planet, inspire others.)

2. Do I take enough time out to reflect on what is really important to me?

3. Do my business values align with my purpose?

4. Can I say ‘no’ more than I say ‘yes’?

5. When I fail, do I treat it as failure or use it as an opportunity to learn?

6. Do my habits stop me from trying new things?

7. Am I prepared to move forward despite the opinions of others?

8. Can I accept my present situation, but also keep the long term vision in my mind?

We don’t ask ourselves these questions because we may not like the answers, because it might make us vulnerable and therefore feel weak.

To become resilient and to be great leaders we have to commit to creating new space to move into. To accept that it might not be easy and that, just maybe, we will come out the other side stronger, happier and more fulfilled.

In the end the only thing that is fatal in life is death. Everything else can be overcome if we choose to be brave and take a small leap every day. 

Are you going to be brave and step into the space?