The Resilient Leader

“If you’re going through Hell, keep going”, as Winston Churchill famously said.

Anyone who has experienced trauma in their lives, or some form of personal suffering, whether physical, emotional or both, will know that not only will you eventually get through it, but with the right mindset you will be stronger and more resilient afterwards. Those who know me will know that I have a fair bit of first hand experience.

The effect of this strengthened resilience can, for many, improve their management and leadership performance, although that is, of course, not a guaranteed outcome. But with the right mentoring and support, when individuals experience adversity they can develop valuable skills and qualities that can contribute to their effectiveness as leaders, such as:

1. Empathy: Personal suffering can help leaders develop a deeper understanding of others' struggles, making them more compassionate and supportive.
2. Core Resilience: Overcoming challenges can build mental and emotional resilience, enabling leaders to better handle setbacks and navigate difficult situations.
3. Adaptability: Experiencing adversity can teach individuals to adapt to changing circumstances and find creative solutions to problems.
4. Humility: Experiencing tough life challenges can foster humility, making leaders more open to feedback and willing to learn from their mistakes.
5. Perspective: Going through difficult times can help leaders appreciate the bigger picture and focus on life balance (for them and others) and long-term goals rather than getting hung up on any short-term setbacks or relatively trivial matters.

Needless to say though, these enhancements are not guaranteed. It is obvious that traumatic experiences can also have negative effects on performance if not properly managed, such as increased stress, too much introspection, burnout, or impaired decision-making. It is essential for individuals to process their experiences, seek support, and develop healthy coping mechanisms to harness the potential benefits of personal suffering for leadership growth. To do so successfully will almost certainly need careful input from someone else.

Finding and accepting the help of a great mentor gives the best chance of gaining some positives from the lottery of life’s sometimes cruel roulette wheel. This is not about trying ‘erase’ the trauma, but establishing an effective coping mechanism that is likely to guide you to evolve into an even better leader.