Leadership today isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about having the inner strength to lead through uncertainty, change, and even crisis. Resilient leaders don’t just “get through it”—they grow through it.
Here are five practical, proven ways to build your resilience as a leader:
1. Look Up – Literally and Metaphorically
One of the simplest yet most powerful resilience hacks is this: Look Up. When the chaos hits, pause. Breathe. Step away and shift your perspective. It could be a walk around the block or a moment of silence. That shift in viewpoint can unlock creativity, calm, and confidence.
Although it sounds easy, if you practice Look Up, you will get faster and more efficient at changing your inner channel. Start small by putting a daily Look Up reminder in your phone. Block off 5 minutes of time to really get off your computer, physically step away, turn off distractions, and be in the moment and be grateful finding the upside in your current chapter.
Another simple way to inject this life tool into your week is to test Look Up the next time you are stuck in a traffic jam, a painfully slow-moving TSA line at the airport, or when receiving harsh criticism on your last work project.
2. Embrace the Restart Reflex and a Growth Mindset
We live in a culture obsessed with winning. But real leaders know that reinvention is a core skill. Whether it’s a failed launch, a personal loss, or a leadership misstep—resilient leaders don’t hide it. They restart. And they model that growth mindset for their teams.
The growth mindset is based on the research that abilities, intelligence, and talents are not fixed traits. They can be developed. A person that has adopted the growth mindset embraces challenges, learns from feedback, and sees failure as a steppingstone.
3. Name It to Navigate It
If you can’t name the problem, you can’t solve it. Resilient leaders create space for real talk. They name what’s going on: stress, fatigue, fear, and burnout. And when they do, they unlock trust and teamwork. Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s leadership.
To showcase your vulnerability and authentic self gives others permission to do the same. There is no other better leadership strength than that. Plus, it helps all with their inner compass.
4. Bounce Forward, Not Back and Welcome the New Normal
Instead of hoping for “back to normal,” resilient leaders ask: what’s the new normal? They treat adversity as a springboard, not a pitstop. Whether leading change management or guiding a grieving team, they use challenge to fuel evolution, which takes the organization from the new normal to what’s possible.
5. Adventure as a Leadership Strategy
Adventure isn’t just for weekends. It’s a leadership mindset. Trying something new—personally or professionally—and it rewires your brain for resilience. Think outside of just your team’s specific roles. Foster a culture that encourages learning a new language, signing up for a marathon, or setting a goal to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain. By taking challenges outside of the office, transfers to adaptability and resilience in the office setting.
Want proof? Watch my 6-min TEDx talk.
So, lead your team into unknowns. Host brainstorming adventures. Challenge status quo. When leaders adventure, teams grow braver.
What’s Next?
We’re all navigating change and at a rapid pace with AI, the economy, politics, and the whole enchilada. But, know this: resilience is a reflex you can strengthen. And your team needs your bounce-forward spirit more than your perfection.
Look Up. Be in the moment. Find the upside. That’s how resilient leaders lead.
Want more stories and strategies from real-life sheroes, heroes, and badasses?
Check out Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience on Amazon.
Psst…. Don’t worry; there is an audiobook for those that don’t have time for sitting down with a book. I’ve listened to my last 5 books in the last 2 months and I’m an author.
As always, here’s to looking up!
