We live in uncertain times. As such, business leaders need to be able to deal with temporary setbacks and recover quickly when things go wrong.
Managers are faced with different challenges every day. These might include managing conflicts, dealing with increasing regulatory change or difficult trading conditions. Having the ability to cope effectively when under pressure is essential. So how do you become a more resilient manager?
Focus on your strengths
In the face of adversity, remember the strengths that have got you where you are and ask yourself how they can be applied to overcome the current challenge.
Take time to reflect
Whether you’re celebrating success or enduring tough challenges, make time to reflect. Reflection fosters learning and helps you to develop new perspectives and a degree of self-awareness that can enhance your resilience.
Don’t ignore the negative
Resilient managers see negatives and risks, but don’t dwell on them. Instead focus on re-framing issues in a more proactive direction. Negative challenges are best seen as opportunities to learn.
Define your purpose
Developing a sense of purpose gives your work meaning and helps you put it into a larger context. A clear sense of purpose helps you to assess setbacks within the framework of a broader perspective. It also helps others in your firm to understand what you are trying to achieve.
Build relationships
Resilient business leaders build relationships with colleagues and bring those colleagues along with them. Developing good relationships with colleagues creates a strong base of support which is critical in helping managers to achieve objectives, develop perspective and make difficult decisions.
Of course these things are easier to say than to do. The trick is not to expect to be able to embrace everything overnight, but recognise how powerful it will be when you have embraced these ideas and then start taking the small steps necessary to embed these new habits.
We will be looking at how you do that at the next EPIC Business Leaders Workshop on Thursday 25 April which is titled ‘Leadership resilience strategies: How to 100% guarantee your success in 2019’.
If you are unable to make the workshop, come in for an informal chat over a coffee – book a free advice clinic with Will Abbott on 01242 776000 or will.abbott@randall-payne.co.uk.
