What do you do if your leadership skills are being tested by adversity?

Celebrate it! After all, leading during "easy" times isn't really leadership - it's "management." Real leadership skills are gained while leading during times of challenge and adversity. It's how we gain the most knowledge and experience as leaders and that is what helps catapult each leader toward higher and higher heights. So, shift your mind and recognize the "challenges" as genuine opportunities to grow and expand as a leader. As with all adversity, "this too shall pass." So, ask yourself: What improved leadership skills do you want to end up with after this is all over? That helps you focus on the future - what can be - instead of falling into the potential frustration of "what is."

Asking your team to ‘embrace change’ can be challenging given it sounds like ‘corporate speak’. This can often be interpreted as ‘we want you to do more’! I’ve found a more positive way to lead change is to foster an environment where team members are encouraged to ‘test and learn’. Give your team the autonomy to try new things, to put their ideas into practice, to recognise and benefit from their expertise and commitment. Team members love the opportunity to add value - it’s human nature! When you provide a genuinely positive and safe environment - they’ll step into the space. Being nimble and focused on continuous improvement driven by the team is the very essence of ‘embracing change’ - just without the corporate speak!

You’ve basically three choices. And they are powerful ones. You can REACT, which in a way is to put your past into the future and obscure whatever may be possible through the volatility. You can RESPOND, which is to take responsibility. And it’s important to distinguish what you are responsible for and avoid over responsibility. You can INITIATE, which is to create. Go be a creator.

The best advise I got for staying positive, is to remember that being nice and forgiving is the winning long-term strategy according game theory. What the theory also says, which is a good reminder, is that nice people should not be pushovers. Act immediately when treated badly. Nice people win if it costs for persons acting badly.

Leadership is situational The real challenge with people is that you want to be correct if others are correct. Provocation is a test of maturity. We recognize the true maturity of a leader when chaos arises. Most people want to manage perfection Most people want to have decent people to manage. For others everything is normal but for the leader everything is complex.

In the thick of adversity, your positivity isn't just a light; it's a beacon for your team. Channeling optimism in tough times isn't about ignoring realities but about painting a vision that rises above them. It's this unwavering belief in better days that fuels morale and ignites a collective drive towards overcoming hurdles. Show them that every cloud has a silver lining, and watch as this belief transforms challenges into rallying points, uniting your team in strength and purpose.

Absolutely! Maintaining a positive attitude in tough times is crucial for leadership. Understanding and regulating emotions, as per emotional intelligence, helps convey confidence and support. By sharing a vision of overcoming challenges and focusing on positive outcomes, leaders inspire their teams to stay motivated and engaged. A positive outlook is contagious, fostering resilience and collaboration within the team.

Staying positive during adversity encourages creative problem-solving. A hopeful and optimistic mindset is more likely to seek out innovative solutions rather than dwell on obstacles. Also, positivity can reduce stress and anxiety, not just for you but for your entire team, creating a more supportive and productive work environment. It helps in maintaining a clear perspective, allowing for better decision-making by focusing on opportunities rather than being paralyzed by challenges. A positive attitude can turns adversity into a stepping stone for growth and learning, setting a strong example for your team to follow. Challenges are inevitable, facing them with optimism is the sign of a growth mindset.

??We've heard it said time and time again that communication is the key. Communicating clearly is essential because it allows you to keep your team informed and aligned during times of adversity. In a financial crisis, for example, communicating openly with the team about the situation, action plans and expectations can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty, keeping everyone focused on the common goal.

Be as transparent as possible. The team will be looking for answers, this is the time to strengthen trust and your opportunity to get the team onboard with the change, by including them in the communication. You can ask for their thoughts and ideas to help get through the adversity.

Chaos can impede and distort the right message and accentuate the trivial and the falsehood. Sharpen your focus on clarity, conciseness, and unity during a crisis. Even in desperate times, ensure hope and optimism rally people to decisive action. Recognize your fears and do not let them rule your actions. Keep the lines of communication open. Know that the first message was incomplete, so don't react too quickly.

Guiding a team through challenging periods is crucial. In adverse times teams need an open, transparent and authentic communication from their leaders.

I always tell young people that no matter how fantastic your idea maybe if you can't communicate clearly and effectively, then it will likely die without any expression. To become a leader, you must learn effective communication skills. Communication is key to your success both as a leader and as an individual

Dealing with challenge or adversity is always difficult but the first step is to not take it personally and to look at what's the foundation for the challenge - where has the challenge come from & why has it come about - what's the rationale or reasoning. Remember... "seek first to understand". I'd then try to resolve this which will reduce the challenge or at least the impact - & then focus on what outcome you want to achieve and see if there's alignment or correlation with whoever or wherever the challenge has come from. It's not easy & it can be difficult to stay strong but be confident in your knowledge & experience - remember the positive impacts that you've had, what you've achieved & don't let the challenge undermine your confidence

La résilience en tant que Manageur se developpe via 5 piliers tactiques : 1 Identifier les causes racines de l'agression 2 Masquer les effets émotionnels et operationnels à l'adversaire 3 Matérialiser les risques et leurs Impacts sur la performance de votre organisation 4 Développer l'ago-antagonisme de l'attaque, par exemple sourire et non souffrir 5 Laisser au temps du temps

Frame the adversity as a learning opportunity. What can be learned to avoid it from happening again? What could have been done differently? And focus on a move-forward plan. This will help build resilience with the team by focusing on what is in their control versus what may not be.

Developing resilience is for some innate, for others a matter of awareness and preparation. Knowing one's weaknesses and where to find support and comfort is necessary to get through life's challenges. Whether at work, in the family or in our daily lives, we will all one day need to be aware that resilience is a quality to be developed.

Resilience is an attribute to be exercised during times of adversity. Leaders who remain calm, and think clearly as to the end goal in mind and their purpose will weather the storms easily.

People need leadership. Especially when things aren't going smoothly, your team is looking to YOU for guidance. Take decisive action. You will not always be right, but you also will not always be wrong. Take this lesson from a surgeon: not always right but never in doubt.

It's not enough to simply have the right mindset - you also need to take action. You may not make the right decisions all the time, but you can stand out for being a decisive leader and people will respect that. Decisive leaders tend to make decisions earlier, faster, and with greater conviction than other types of leaders. They do this consistently even when they don't have all the facts. Many leaders use instinct or gut feelings to make decisions when having to act quickly. Once the decision is made, it's important to follow through and not second-guess yourself. You can always evaluate and reflect on your decision later to see if you would do things differently next time.

Involve your team in the decision-making process where appropriate. Solicit their input and perspectives, which can offer valuable insights and foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the chosen path forward. Additionally, communicate the rationale behind your decisions transparently, ensuring everyone understands the reasoning and feels informed and engaged in the process.

One of the key roles of a leader is to make timely decisions for the team. It can be challenging in times of adversity, but as leaders, we have no choice. Delaying decisions can frustrate our team. As a leader, we don't have to take it upon ourselves to make all the decisions. We might not have the right amount of data or the correct data. As leaders, we can use process facilitation methods and tools with our team to make effective decisions. This process provides space for meaningful conversations to provide clarity on making informed and timely decisions. Collective decision-making provides an avenue to assess the situation from various perspectives, thus providing us with more options in the decision making process

Adversity rewards bold action, not endless deliberation. Move fast, even with 70% info. Perfect is the enemy of done. Seize fleeting opportunities. Hesitation hands them to the competition. Lead, don't analyse. Your team needs a captain, not a question mark.

Teamwork is always important but never as much as when faced with adversity. Without a solid foundation of working together, when times get tough, the team will fracture. Making sure that you are fostering a culture of collaboration is the best way to get people to work together.

In today's dynamic environment, organizations are continually challenged to adapt swiftly to the relentless pace of change. Fostering teamwork is crucial in navigating these constant changes. In fostering teamwork, we are developing trust and respect among team members. These inspire individuals to align with the team's goals and objectives continuously. This involves letting go of their personal preferences for the sake of the team. Having team members with diverse skills and talents can help complement individuals' gaps to overcome challenges. As the saying goes T.E.A.M: 'Together Everyone Achieves More'

Engage your team, fostering an environment where they support each other and work together not just to weather the storm, but to move forward as a united front. Remember, a team that tackles challenges together is far stronger than individuals facing them alone.

Rise Above Adversity: A Leader's Guide. Lead by Example: Your team looks to you during challenging times for guidance. Demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and a positive attitude to inspire your team. Communicate Effectively: Keep your team informed, listen to their concerns, and give clear direction, which fosters trust and unity during difficult times. Adversity is an opportunity for leadership to shine. By fostering teamwork, communicating effectively, and leading by example, you can navigate through challenges and emerge more potent as a team.

El líder consciente y colaborativo, no es sòlo un título. Corresponde a una persona que se dise?a así mismo, que sabe reconocer cuándo debe acompa?ar a sus colaboradores o cuando sólo mostrarles el camino hacia la meta decretada. Saber reconocer la vulnerabilidad propia y empatizar con la vulnerabilidad ajena hace a un buen líder. El reconocimiento es uno de los grandes motivadores de los equipos.

When leadership skills are tested by adversity, it's crucial to stay calm, resilient, and adaptable. Embrace the challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate practical leadership qualities such as decisiveness, empathy, and strategic thinking. Communicate openly and transparently with your team, clarifying the situation and fostering trust and collaboration. Lead by example, remaining cheerful, optimistic, and solution-oriented even in the face of uncertainty. Listen actively to concerns, offer support, and empower your team members to contribute ideas and solutions. Take decisive action when necessary, but also be willing to learn from mistakes and adjust strategies as needed.

Use the power of pause. Step back from making snap decisions. Carve out time to respond mindfully (vs reacting). Gain perspective by observing, and gathering more information. Adversity can often put us in fight or flight mode, and shift our motives (the reasons for doing what we do). The power of pausing helps us to make considered, strategic decisions vs decisions led by our nervous system.

I think the most important skill to is the ability to regulate and manage emotions. Especially during times of adversity, emotions run high and adding on to uncertainty and stress this skill is a must for the leader to manage self and manage others. Communication and team cohesion is fragile during moments of adversity and without the ability to understand how emotions can break or make it for the leader.

Before taking corrective action, it's crucial to confirm the accuracy of our perceptions. What evidence can we substantiate? Are there others within the organization who share similar sentiments? Our interpretation of situations might be influenced by past roles and limited experience, potentially clouding our judgment. Therefore, thorough validation is essential before proceeding with any corrective measures.

Every experience you've had has prepared you for this moment. Turn inward, become quiet and hear your own voice. Trust it. You could fail, if you do the lessons will be invaluable. If you succeed then you'll trust yourself even more.