There’s no doubt that in today’s modern, fast-paced, competitive business world, more and more challenges are arising for business leaders.

 

The world has undergone a significant change in the last few years, and on top of this the way workers think about their careers has changed.

 

There are more challenges for leaders to navigate, and more opportunities for workers expecting more than ever from their employers.

 

A new report from global executive search network Horton International states: “Consumer behaviour is changing, the way we communicate has changed, and issues surrounding inflation, supply chains, and recruitment are all bringing new and rapidly evolving obstacles to the table.”

Furthermore, a survey by management consultants McKinsey polled business leaders on what they believed their biggest challenges were.

 

Surprisingly, just four percent of leaders mentioned the impact of COVID-19.

 

Unsurprisingly, a quarter of respondents mentioned the recession and rising inflation as their biggest challenge this year. This was followed by 15 percent mentioning labour shortages and 13 percent mentioning wider supply chain issues.

 

So, how are today’s business leaders coping with these ever-growing challenges and pressures?

 

There’s growing evidence that certain types of leaders are thriving where others are struggling.

 

They’re the ones demonstrating resilience.

 

Former US President Woodrow Wilson once said: “The difference between a strong man and a weak one is that the former doesn’t give up after a defeat.”

 

And this passion and commitment never to give up is the true embodiment of resilience.

 

So, what are the key benefits of being a resilient leader?

 

Communication

Resilient leaders tend to be powerful and effective communicators who let their teams and other leaders know of their intentions and reasoning behind them. They can communicate in an authoritative way that others respond to.

 

Adaptability

When faced with a setback or challenge, resilient leaders focus on the things they can do as opposed to the things they can’t do. In an ever-changing world and business landscape, this ability to be flexible, adaptable and offer solutions based on whatever new challenge crops up is priceless.

 

Optimism

Leaders with an optimistic mindset can influence their colleagues and teams to help raise morale and keep momentum working towards solutions. Resilient leaders know that setbacks are inevitable and find a way to welcome the lessons they bring.

 

Feedback

Resilient leaders are open to receiving feedback and using this to help improve both their own performance and the performance of their team. They’ll also be motivated to continuously improve their own skills, performance and abilities to become a better leader and be more valuable to their organisation.

 

Empathy

Leaders who can be empathetic to those around them build relationships with their team, which in turn fosters high levels of engagement. When team members feel understood, they’ll be more motivated and confident in their ability to contribute opinions, solutions, questions, ideas, and debate.

  

Look out for my next blog in this series – “How to be a resilient leader.”

 

If you’d like to explore the subject of resilience more deeply, please contact me on via Email: russell@theresiliencecoach.co.uk.