What do you do if your leadership resilience is being tested by obstacles and setbacks?

Be strong and determined, be diplomatic. Failures and setbacks are part and parcel of life. Make sure that the obstacles are not being created deliberately by someone, which has been the case sometimes in my experience. Handle them carefully.

As an experienced high school English teacher, my approach to overcoming obstacles and setbacks that test leadership resilience involves treating these challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. I consistently encourage my students to embrace difficulties with a positive mindset- a growth mindset. Reflecting on my own challenges, I find it crucial to seek feedback from peers and mentors to refine my strategies. By demonstrating how to navigate setbacks with determination and a focus on continuous improvement, I aim to instill these values in my students, showing them the real-world application of resilience and adaptability.

In my experience failure in itself is not the major stumbling block to success. The fear of failure and how you as a leader perceive you’ll look in front of others is what cripples your success. Too often leaders carry the burden of trying to be perfect based on a myth that great leaders don’t experience failure at any point. Failure can be extremely difficult when it is done in the public eye, but if you can learn to accept it as part of a growth mindset, you will be a better person and more resilient. I have failed in front of my staff and the community on more than one occasion and it was painful. Yet because I didn’t give up I was able to enjoy a level of joy when my ideas and beliefs came to fruition on a scale never before seen.

A good leader always sets out example for others to follow. When the team is working hard and leader need to support the team with his experiences and keep them motivated. Failures are stepping stone to success. So as a leader it is a very common experience that your efforts wont go as expected still keeping a calm and cool head is most important.

‘Failure’ is often a matter of perspective. If anything, it provides a learning opportunity where you consider carefully alternatives not taken. A question I frequently ask interviewees is ‘if you had your time again, what would you do differently?’ This is not because they have ‘failed’ but because they came to a fork in the road and could have chosen differently with a more positive outcome. I think ‘Different’ is more useful than ‘Failure’.

Professionals need to have mentors and collaborators. These invaluable members of the individual's team provide such an important resource. Finding a mentor/supporter can be challenging because we can think that we should be able to solve the problem in front of us, or that our colleagues will think less of us if we ask for help. However, in my experience, when I've asked for help, the strategic support has been very helpful and long-lasting. Additionally, when I have been asked to function in the mentoring role, I have been so honored to help and support a colleague. I'm always warier of those who project a sense of "knowing it all".

1. Reach Out: Don't hesitate to reach out to your support network when facing challenges. Be proactive in seeking assistance, whether it's through a one-on-one conversation, a group discussion, or a formal mentoring relationship. 2. Be Vulnerable and Honest: When seeking support, be willing to be vulnerable & open about your struggles. Share your challenges, fears, and uncertainties openly with your support network. Honesty fosters trust & allows others to provide meaningful support. 3. Be Specific About Your Needs: Clearly communicate what type of support you're seeking from each individual in your network. Whether you need practical advice, emotional support, brainstorming sessions,or simply a listening ear, articulate your needs clearly.

Well, however seasoned, prepared and well versed you are as a leader, you are still susceptible to momentary (sometimes even bigger) bottlenecks and impediments. This is the best time to reflect, exercise self control , and not fall prey to emotional breakdown. Evaluate all the alternatives meticulously, embrace changes with an open mind and most importantly stay positive till you find a reasonable solution. Maintain good faith and communication with your team, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Stay confident and compassionate all this time.

Assess the Situation: Take a step back and objectively assess the obstacles and setbacks you're facing. Understand the root causes of the challenges and how they impact your original plans and objectives. Revisit Goals and Priorities: Review your overarching goals and priorities in light of the obstacles. Determine whether they need to be adjusted or if they remain relevant. Clarify what success looks like given the current circumstances. Identify Alternative Approaches: Brainstorm alternative strategies and approaches for achieving your goals. Consider different paths, tactics, or resources that could help you navigate around or overcome the obstacles you're facing.

As a startup mentor, guiding entrepreneurs through obstacles is crucial for developing resilience. Encourage them to see setbacks not just as barriers, but as opportunities to learn and refine their strategies. Advise them to stay flexible, regularly reassess their plans, and remain open to pivoting when necessary. Teach them the importance of maintaining a clear vision while adapting tactics to overcome challenges. This approach not only aids in navigating current difficulties but also prepares them for future hurdles, enhancing their overall resilience and setting a strong example for their team

Contingency plans can also help to overcome setbacks. Some potential obstacles can be foreseen and planned in advance and quickly enacted when “Plan A” does not work out or cannot continue. A contingency plan can take less time and effort to employ and cause fewer problems compared to creating a new plan from scratch.

When it comes to the adjustments of our plans, it is extremely important to think clearly about the choices available and which one can be taken aiming to accomplish our initial goals. We must consider all aspects of our working context and make the whole team focus on possible solutions. Having said that, as a leader, we must engage our team and make them notice how important and essential their contributions are to make the adjustments a soft process so everybody feels comfortable and valuable. Adjusting plans does not need to be something daunting, but an opportunity to review strategies, actions and visualize new routes we can take.

Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion during difficult times. Recognize that setbacks and obstacles are a natural part of life and leadership, and treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding you would offer to others. Lead by Example: Demonstrate the importance of prioritizing wellness to your team by modeling healthy behaviors and boundaries. Encourage your team members to prioritize their own well-being and create a supportive culture that values work-life balance. Schedule Regular Breaks: Take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge and reset. Allocate specific time for self-care activities, such as exercise, relaxation, and spending time with loved ones.

There really is no instant recipe for success! We are all convinced about our stands; but they may not necessarily be the best in the long run. We all have days when our perception is “off”. Try to maintain objectivity. Maintain a balance between give and take.

People normally have no time to reflect on their daily activities. Life has become some sort of "fast food" of time: we are consuming time without really reflecting on what we do and why. It is important to take a moment to analyze what we do during our day, mostly at night before going to bed: reflect on what was worthy and went right and what did not. By doing that, you will be able to focus on the aspects that need improvements and better strategies to overcome them. Meanwhile, it will be important to compliment yourself for what you did that worked well.

Review, reassess, acknowledge errors, address areas needing improvement, welcome feedback, and maintain resilience. Also, seek support from a mentor. Challenges often serve as a real test of one's resilience.

I have been in these situations in the past. The one thing I have learnt is that you have to be consistent even in adverse situations. Every day can't be perfect, but our consistency is in our hands. So we should focus on what is in our hands, we should focus. Be consistent.

When facing obstacles and setbacks, it's essential to focus on self-care, maintain a positive mindset, seek support from peers or mentors, and adapt your strategies as needed. Reflect on past successes to remind yourself of your capabilities, and don't hesitate to delegate tasks or seek advice when necessary. Remember, resilience is built through challenges, so view each setback as an opportunity for growth.

Share Your Story: Be open and transparent about your own experiences with overcoming adversity. Share personal stories of challenges you've faced, setbacks you've encountered, and how you've persevered despite obstacles. Your vulnerability humanizes you as a leader and makes your experiences relatable to others. Highlight Lessons Learned: Reflect on the lessons you've learned from overcoming adversity and share them with your team. Identify key takeaways, insights, and strategies that have helped you navigate challenges effectively. Encourage your team to glean wisdom from your experiences and apply it to their own situations.

1. Identify all potential risks at the beginning and prepare backup plans 2. Brief senior stakeholders about the potential risks and the plans to manage if there is a disruption or failure events 3. Develop cross functional teams to ensure the resource related failures can be managed

Be purpose-driven. Purpose is vitally important to work performance. Performing meaningful work in support of a purpose can lead to a host of benefits, including: 1. Higher job satisfaction 2. Stronger social support in the team 3. Greater commitment amongst team members. By taking a purpose-driven approach to work & instilling a sense of meaning amongst the team, you can lead more authentically & rally your team members around a goal when challenges arise, empowering them to unleash their potential & perform at their best to achieve successful outputs. By looking inward, making a commitment to learning, following a purpose, & cultivating relationships, you can improve how you respond to challenges & strengthen your resilience muscle. ????

Leading a school can feel overwhelming at times. While staying calm and reflecting are important, don't get bogged down by negativity. Instead, take a deep breath and shift into problem-solving mode. Gather your team, brainstorm solutions, and focus on fixing what can be fixed. Show your team you're there to tackle challenges head-on, not crumble under pressure. This proactive approach builds trust and inspires confidence. Your team will see you as a leader who finds solutions, not dwells on problems. Remember, setbacks happen, but how you react makes all the difference. So, become the fixer, not the frazzled leader, and watch your team overcome challenges with a positive and collaborative spirit.

It is worthy to say that nowadays people are becoming unkind and it is not only to people they do not know, but to themselves. I tend to believe that being kind is an essential key to handle all sorts of situations, especially when it comes to ourselves. Be patient and respect the time needed for each step of the journey and meanwhile learn the lessons.