Running the resilience race

This week at work we ran a Leadership speed dating event. Just like the dating version, its a 1 minute opportunity to ask anyone on our Leadership team the hard hitting questions and equally an opportunity for everyone to learn something new from each other. The most common question that was asked of me was, "How have you settled into your new role?".

Like a great reverse coaching session, this was a question I had never truly reflected on, nor expected to quickly answer in a 1 minute time limit. The answers I gave if anything were more helpful to me than probably producing my team with any deep insight. However, the overall session reminded me again that anyone operating at any level in our exciting, fast changing and highly complex advertising industry is dealing with enormous challenges.

At any level or stage where you are at in your career they can appear to be big or small, but a challenge still needs to be dealt with. Look at the young Australian Jessica Watson who as the tender age of 16, sailed around the world, non stop and solo. Jessica credits her ability to overcome the many challenges she faced during her 3 years of preparation and 210 days alone at sea to building resilience. Her tip when facing seemingly enormous challenges was to "Break big goals down and focus only on the few miles ahead during tough times".

From my speed dating session and upon reflection, my 7 personal learnings on getting better at running the resilience race are:

1. Health is 1st and foremost.

Going to a docter at the end of 2017 not feeling myself she said to me, "What's the point of pushing yourself so hard when your not well enough to do your job?". Many of us are guilty of giving up exercise, skipping lunch and de-prioritising sleep.

2. If you get knocked down, get back up again.

Our industry can be constant and almost ruthless with the amount of hits you can get each day. I need to constantly remind myself in my head to just keep walking. Like Winston Churchill once said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts".

3. Different attitudes require different approaches.

This is something a wise young media executive Anisha Prabhu spoke to me about yesterday when I asked her about her biggest challenge at work. Being able to develop your emotional intelligence to be more empathetic at work can be one of your biggest assets. Maintaining respectful relationships with all people is what successful people really thrive at.

4. Giving your brain head space.

Learning to not get bogged down, priortisie and not get distracted from unproductive negativity. Muhammad Ali said it best when he once quoted, "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out, its the pebble in your shoe". He was referring to the every day distractions that take us off course from seeing the bigger picture in our lives.

5. Learning when to call it a day.

Many years ago I attended an MFA 5 + event (for those who have been in media advertising for 5 years and over) and one of the speakers was an ex-Group CEO of a highly successful global creative agency. His piece of golden advice was that each day at work is like navigating a raging storm in an ocean, you might try to achieve calm waters by the end of the day, but its learning to leave work the ocean wavy and not trying to achieve ultimate perfection.

6. Leaning on your team.

Many times when I thought the challenge was unachievable, what has always pleasantly surprised me is seeing how the team around me step in when least expected. Almost like Superman jumping out of a phone box is my best analyogy of when your A team step in just when you need it. Back to Jessica Watson, she is very vocal that the success she achieved was largely due to the planning and backing of her professional team.

7. Your proudest moments will keep you going.

Like any new parent that had endured hours, days and months of lack of sleep. Nothing can take away from your proudest achievement of becoming a parent. Like at work, the people around you- your clients, your team, or the projects you've worked hard on will always be your constant reminder to keep persevering!

Which rounds me back to the irony of the purpose of the Leadership speed dating session. Originally the goal was for our team to learn from us, but again it forced me to learn even more about myself and what we can all learn from each other.