How can senior executives use resilience to adapt to change?

In our fast-paced digital age, self-care isn't just a luxury—it's your secret weapon for crafting a resilient career. Imagine your professional journey as a high-performance vehicle; regular self-care is the premium fuel that keeps it running smoothly. Balancing work demands with mindful practices like quality sleep, exercise, and moments of relaxation isn't just about wellness; it's about fortifying your career for the long haul. By nurturing yourself, you enhance your capacity to bounce back from setbacks, stay adaptable in the face of change, and sustain long-term career success. So, make self-care a non-negotiable part of your career strategy, and watch how it propels you toward success.

"Que celui qui n'a jamais échoué dans un processus de changement organisationnel lève la main!" L'échec fait partie du management du changement. Plus tôt les dirigeants accueillent cette réalité, plus vite ils accepteront d'évaluer leur niveau de résilience, afin de saisir les outils adaptés pour mieux intégrer ce changement dans leurs activités quotidiennes.

Eu diria que o nível de resiliência para se adaptar às mudanças tem a ver com nosso grau de flexibilidade, de estar aberto ao novo, de se libertar de velhas crenças e velhos hábitos. Como consequência melhoramos até as nossas relações!

Instead of viewing disruptions as setbacks, resilient leaders see them as chances to innovate and learn. In other words: Resilient leaders seek opportunity amid change! By fostering a culture that encourages flexibility and learning from experiences, senior executives can lead their teams through change with confidence. This involves not only "bouncing back" from setbacks but also proactively seeking new solutions, fostering open communication, and inspiring a resilient culture across the organization (in other words, instead of bouncing back... resilient leaders "evolve forth.").

🧐 First things first, let's get real about where you stand with resilience. Take a moment (or a few) to really understand where you shine and where you might need a little boost. Think about it: how do you handle curveballs? Are there moments you've nailed it, and others where you wish you had a bit more oomph? Maybe give a tool like the Resilience Scale for Adults a whirl. By pinpointing your strong suits and areas to spruce up, you're setting yourself up to tackle change head-on.

To adapt to change, senior executives can leverage resilience by instilling a growth mindset, encouraging open communication within their teams, and leading with fortitude during challenging phases. Viewing change as an opportunity for growth, promoting innovative thinking, and maintaining a positive outlook collectively contribute to organizational resilience. Offering support to employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and remaining adaptable in leadership approaches are key elements for successfully navigating and adapting to change.

Having a Growth Mindset is key to having resilience - remember that a Growth Mindset, at it's core, is about how we deal with change. Being resilient is all about how you handle the changes in front of you. One little Growth Mindset trick that I love (and helps) is the power of "yet". This isn't easy for my "yet" I am not comfortable "yet" I haven't made it through this change "yet" The power of "yet" gets you to the power of accomplishment.

A growth mindset is the most important thing you can have in times of change. The mindset of "fail fast & fail often" has served me well - don't be afraid to make mistakes - it is how you (& your organisation) will learn, especially when navigating new territory. The important thing is to learn from your failures and recover from them quickly. Develop metrics to measure what success/failure looks like & review performance often, so you can pivot and change direction quickly if your initial plan is not proceeding as expected. You will often learn a lot more from your mistakes than you will from successes. Remember, it is important to not beat yourself up for mistakes -recognize them, learn from them & then pick yourself up & keep going!

Embrace that growth mindset 🌱 You know that feeling when things don't go as planned? Instead of seeing it as a downer, switch gears. Start thinking: "What can I learn from this?" That's what a growth mindset is all about. See every twist and turn as a chance to learn and evolve, rather than something to dread. Celebrate the little wins, learn from the hiccups, and remind yourself that you're on a journey of continuous improvement. Trust me; it makes a world of difference!

One thing that will help to know is that most executives look for people with the ability to persevere and be resilient. It’s more important than scoring all the A’s in knowledge, or having loads of experience in a particular aspect. A person’s level of resilience will determine his/her success or failure. So, to cultivate a growth mindset it’s best to cultivate mentoring relationships with resilient people long before you land up in the midst of challenges. A trusting relationship with other resilient people can help when the going gets tough. You can begin by asking them good questions. For eg. “I have tried (the following options) and nothing has seemed to work. Could you help me understand why? Am I missing to see something?

Lean on your tribe 🤝 We all need our people, especially when navigating choppy waters. Build a squad that's got your back, from work buddies and mentors to friends and family. Having folks who cheer you on, give you a reality check when needed, or just lend an ear can make adapting to change a whole lot smoother. Don't hesitate to reach out, share your wins and challenges, and remember to show gratitude. And hey, if there's no group that fits just right, why not start one? Dive into communities or groups that resonate with your vibe and goals.

Mindfulness practices are key to building resilience - taking the time to stop, think and not react often helps you see things more clearly and raises your awareness on what is possible. WHen we are "out of sync" with our own thoughts and emotions, it is more difficult to navigate through tough times.

A few years ago my Wife and I enrolled into a health program called Lasting Solutions which basically helped us make 5 lifestyle changes. 1. Sleep 7-8 hrs a night 2. Staying well hydrated 3. Exercise 4. Eating right 5. Forgiving quickly. I wish I can say we still excel in all these but what has happened to us is that we have become aware of the tremendous difference it makes. So we make it a point to stick to those choices as much as possible. As Senior Executives taking care of ourselves should be a non negotiable. Self care yes. Soul care , even more essential. See more tips on that in my next post.

The point where a senior executive has to show resilience is when they're adamant about any potential transformation at a larger scale. They need to explore and determine an aspect of the change that resonates with their vision. From there, they can reach a certain level of acceptability while exemplifying resilience.

Celebrate small wins: Practice affirmation and learn to celebrate small wins instead of waiting for that one big success. Small wins may be small but celebrating it well will boost your team in a big way. When things are tough it does affect people emotionally. A good leader will find ways to boost team morale. One way of doing it is by finding things that can be celebrated. Neuroscience has proven that the habit of appreciating people or things genuinely enhances the right side of the brain that’s responsible for Creative intelligence. Something everyone can use during trying circumstances at work.

There are a few other things for consideration when using resilience to adapt to change. Particularly, senior leaders should have a strong understanding of the market and eco-system that they function within. Relying upon that industry specific knowledge is vital. Paying close attention to what is happening nationally, in your immediate market will prove valuable information to use in your decision making. It should also be noted that having a set of core leadership ideals or theories to guide your professional practice can be a support in times of transition and help any leader to adapt through change.