8 Things Resilient Leaders Do When When the Chips Are Down

Winning and success: there’s no better experience in business and life. Wouldn’t it be awesome if your life, in and out of work was a series of successful outcomes, motivating and inspiring you along the way? But, as we all know

. Misfortune, failing, and going up against seemingly insurmountable odds aren’t the most appealing aspect of being in leadership. However, they are part of the package.

The Gift of Adversity

If you were so fortunate as never to have encountered hard times, where would you draw your inspiration and ability to “hang tough”? Adversity can be an excellent teacher, motivator, and can prove just how strong you are while revealing those areas you still need to develop.

Here are eight tips for keeping yourself and those around you, calm, inspired, and rising to new heights, especially when the chips are down.

Highlight the Benefits of Adversity

Unexpected adversity and setbacks happen. It’s not so much a question of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ But the biggest issue is how people react. Do setbacks strengthen or weaken people?

Focus on what you can gain as a team by rising to the challenges before you. Take on new perspectives, develop the necessary skills, and use them to build your team resilience. Make sure you walk the walk right along with your team or focusing on the benefits won’t be seen as a valid option.

Stay focused on Your Purpose

Reiterate the value of your mission. This underscores your belief that your goal has a purpose. The bumps in the road, or mountains you must cross, cannot prevent your ultimate success in achieving that which you believe has a purpose. For yourself, you may be unsure or even doubtful about what will work in this instance. But by setting a tone of positivity and perseverance, you’ll reassure those around you. Show others that in spite of the circumstances you are unstoppable and you’ll find yourself lifted by their confidence in you.

Accentuate the Positive

Human nature dictates a tendency to fixate on the negative. No matter where you are, the office, coffee shop, in line at the grocery store, or even a casual dinner party, someone will inevitably start up a conversation or dialogue of discontent and others around chime right in. Prevent this reaction by keeping an optimistic attitude. This will go a long way in motivating employees to keep working toward goals and pushes them to find ways to solve problems instead of complaining and losing hope.

It’s your job to be the motivator and to encourage your team to find value in their work, stay focused on the positive, and do their very best to stay away from fixating on adversity.

Keep Moving Forward

Be mindful of the methods you need to incorporate in order to continue toward your goal and success, but most importantly form a plan and stick closely to it.

Move your team forward. This is what’s in your control and will help you set the tone for your team. Even though you seem to be in the midst of a storm that’s shaking your foundation, keep moving ahead, against the wind, with eyes on the prize.

Build Support Through Consistent Communication

Leaders don’t hide behind closed doors when the going gets tough. The most successful leaders jump into the fray, working alongside their team. Fear can be a crippling sensation. You may be concerned about your status with the company, or how this bout of adversity will impact you personally, but find a way to dial down your fears and ease those of your team.

You may be challenged, you might need to field a barrage of complaints and queries you’re unequipped to handle, and you may find yourself, by virtue of your leadership, the target of team angst. Deal with it. If you avoid being with your team when the chips are down, you risk losing everything you worked so hard to achieve. Your team begins to doubt your authority, you lose respect, and their trust in you can be damaged. Keep communication open and stay by their side. Once the storm passes, you’ll be that much more respected as a leader who didn’t abandon the team.

Never Lower Your Standards

When you’re facing challenges individually or as part of a team, you may be tempted to lower the bar. It might seem easier to achieve a less lofty goal or to ask less of your staff in view of the difficult times. While it is necessary to lift the collective spirits of your team during difficult times, lowering your expectations can have a somewhat demoralizing effect. Be empathetic, but continue to expect your team to rise above, thinking and working smarter as you surmount the seemingly insurmountable. This can empower everyone involved.

All for One and One for All

If you don’t promote a cohesive team environment, the proverbial united front, then these challenging times can have a disastrous impact on the future of your team, and the company. The more difficult the circumstances, the more you’ll find an attitude of every person for himself or herself.

Use your leadership skills to encourage team members to look beyond the self. Let them observe your commitment to the team by putting your own self-interests aside. You’re stronger together, so lead by example.

Blow Off Steam

During these difficult times don’t neglect to treat your team to some fun. Whether you plan an evening of dinner and drinks, attend a local sporting event, or just grab a pizza in the break room and share some laughs together. Your team, and you will come back a little lighter and a little less anxious, ready to give it their all and make the best of things.

Tying It All Together

As the saying goes, tough times don’t last, but tough people do, and that applies to teams made tougher, and stronger, by adversity. Tough times are a part of everyone’s life experiences. There’s no “bad luck,” and Murphy’s Law is simply a litany of negative thoughts. No one cruises down Easy Street for the entire ride.

Think of adversity as a measure of greatness. Embrace the challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership abilities and build your reputation as “one of the great ones”.

The more you build these abilities, the more effective you will be at handling whatever life throws your way. So what about you? Which one of these traits helps you most when set back occurs? Which one do you most need to work on?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TIM CROWLEY, PH.D.

Motivational Keynote Speaker, Leadership, and Resilience Expert

Dr. Tim Crowley is a well-known speaker with a passion for growing leaders, teams, and organizations that produce extraordinary results. For more than 25 years his services have touched the lives of leaders in some of the most recognizable companies in the world. Including AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ernst & Young, Hallmark, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Marriot, Microsoft, Nestle-Purina, along with numerous organizations, universities, state and federal agencies.

When not speaking, leading workshops, and blogging he looks for inspiration through mountain biking, volunteering, and spending time with his family and friends. Invite Tim to speak at your next event. You can learn more about Tim and how his services can help you and your team at drtimcrowley.com. Connect with Tim on LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, and Twitter.