Resilience is our capacity to overcome adversity and setbacks – and is a necessary attribute for a successful, sustainable leader. Mental resilience is the ability to maintain or regain cognitive capacities that risk degradation and to allow creativity to emerge. As an employer, it is your responsibility to equip your leaders with the mental acuity and resilience to lead your workforce to success! Resilient leaders have the ability to sustain their energy level under pressure, see failures as minor setbacks, and be adaptable in any given situation. Aerobodies outlines the 5 pillars of mental health resilience and how to use them to effectively lead your workforce.
Make time for mindfulness. Mindfulness fosters creativity, learning, new perspectives, and a degree of self-awareness that builds resilient leadership. When we work on autopilot, we are disengaged and could miss opportunities or more easily make mistakes. Waking up to the present moment is critical to preventing stress and building resilience, and shows your team that you prioritize your (and their) mental health.
According to Marturano, Mindful Leadership requires 4 fundamental skills:
- Focus allows you to sustain your attention as you solve problems
- Clarity allows you to see a situation exactly for what it is, not just a personal perception
- Creativity requires space for abstract problem solving and innovation
- Compassion helps you to make choices with understanding and empathy
Challenge your assumptions to increase self-awareness. Cognitive reappraisal is the process of learning to notice and challenge faulty assumptions that may have been distorted due to stress. When you collaborate with your team to challenge certain situations, you arrive at more productive and less stressful solutions. Becoming aware of your own strengths and weaknesses empowers your team to discover their own.
Implement self-care and health management techniques. Focusing on managing your mental and physical health by taking breaks when you feel burnt out, treating yourself to elevate your mood and energy, and showing empathy when others prioritize their health is a quality leadership characteristic that people respect and appreciate. When leaders demonstrate health management for themselves, it shows employees that it is acceptable for them to prioritize their own health and wellbeing in the workplace as well.
Create a supportive environment that leads to positive relationships. Our connection to others is human nature, and often a powerful motivator in the workplace. Building positive relationships in a psychologically safe space creates a happier, more supported, and more connected work culture. Show your support to the individuals on your team through engagement and recognition efforts, and it will inspire them to follow suite.
Recognize and align your team’s purpose. Purpose is the recognition that we belong to and serve something bigger than ourselves, and helps to shape the mindset and attitude we have towards our others and our work. As a leader, be sure to communicate the purpose of certain tasks, and the significance of your team’s role in the bigger picture so they can feel connected and find meaning in the work they’re doing.
Speak with our leadership development experts at Aerobodies and watch your workforce transform into more productive and happier employees led by more capable, resilient leaders.
