Resilience in Action: Strategies for Executives to Lead with Strength & Adaptability
Resilience in leadership is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. A recent Forbes article says that “Today’s most successful leaders understand that the ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions is no longer optional—it’s essential.”
Change is constant, and the pace of change is always accelerating. And it feels that that cycle is happening faster and faster these days. Whether it’s navigating organizational shifts, responding to global events, or leading your team through everyday challenges, executives need to be strong, adaptable, and ready to face whatever comes their way.
What Is Resilient Leadership?
Resilient leadership can be defined as “the ability to anticipate and adapt to disruptions, quickly recover from challenges, and apply the lessons learned to future strategies.” It’s not about bouncing back; it’s about growing through the experience. Resilient leaders don’t just survive change—they thrive in it, bringing their teams along with them. They create environments where adaptability and perseverance are welcome and a part of the culture. And “failure” just gets you one step closer to success.
How to Build Resilience
Here are some strategies we consistently suggest when working with executives who want to build resistance:
Get clear on (and stay true to) your values: This is the foundation! When you’re clear on what truly matters to you, and your organization, let those values guide your decisions. Staying true to yourself also creates a sense of confidence. Values clarification can serve as your true north when the pressure gets high.
Focus on what you can control: Leadership can sometimes feel like juggling a dozen things at once - and you have to recognize that not everything is within your control. Stephen Covey’s classic “circle of influence” concept is a helpful tool: identify what you can influence and focus your energy there.
Building strong relationships: You don’t have to do this alone! Having a small and trusted group of peer leaders to call on when you need a new perspective, a few words of encouragement, or even just to take a break is important for a healthy work life. At Nova Leadership, we leverage the importance of community through our Mastermind group coaching and Women’s Leadership retreats.
Harness the power of reflection: Resilience is about learning from mistakes. Take time to review, reflect and capture your thoughts if things don’t go as planned. Ask yourself, What worked? What didn’t? How can you approach things differently next time? It’s rewarding to go back and look at your journal entries from the past to see how much you’ve grown. We do this often, and are generally pleasantly surprised at our progress! And proud of our growth!
Take care of yourself: It’s easy to overlook self-care when you are leading others, and recognize that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy diet. And most importantly, cut yourself some slack and take the time to enjoy the things you love!
Going Deeper
If you want to explore resilience at a deeper level, we recommend the following resources:
Check out Positive Psychology’s 17 Tools to Build Resilience and Coping Skills.
For more on quieting external noise to stay centered, read our past blog, “Quieting the Noise So You Can Hear Yourself.”
Discover how to lead through challenging times in this past blog post.
The Bottom Line
Executive resilience is built over time through intentional effort. By aligning with your values, focusing on what you can control, leaning on your network, reflecting on lessons learned, and taking care of your health, you can lead with strength and adaptability - no matter what challenges arise. Interested in developing your resilience as a leader? Contact us today!