In 2020 challenges lingering in the background like mental health, purpose, and belonging immediately rose to the surface. In 2021 the Great Resignation followed leaving companies with problems that can’t be solved long-term simply with a pay increase. Today, the aftermath of the pandemic, virtual work environments, the looming recession, and Quiet Quitting are front and center for leaders.
What’s the theme? Nonstop disruption. Disruption is not something that is new. It’s the velocity at which we are dealing with that is new. Change is a lot easier to navigate when it is gradual, in a time frame that doesn’t make us get too far outside of our comfort zone. But, when it’s constantly in our face it can take a mental, emotional, energetic, and financial toll.
“We all know that the one thing that is certain in life is change, but what we have all faced in 2020 has been uniquely challenging. As resilient Irish businesses look to recover and rebuild, the road ahead is likely to be even more unpredictable. Organisations that plan and invest in anticipation of future disruptions will be better positioned to thrive.” – Harry Goddard, CEO, Deloitte Ireland
We can’t predict the future. But, we can prepare for it by mastering the internal game — the mindsets, skills and beliefs — that will drive external results. And senior leaders, emerging leaders, and leaders without a title need to be equipped with internal skills to navigate this new world of work. Because when the future is here it will be too late to prepare. We can’t change our external world, but we can change how we show up in the world.
Here are a few internal skills we can adopt to navigate the external pressures and emotional rollercoaster of leading in a world of disruption.
GROWTH MINDSET
When people talk about mindset here is what they mean. We view the world through two different lenses. Either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset. There is no in-between. With a fixed mindset, we view our skills as something that is set in stone. But, with a growth mindset, we view our skills as something that can improve.
With a growth mindset, we can view adversity as a catalyst for growth.
When Steve Nash, back-to-back NBA MVP point guard for the Phoenix Suns and most recently the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets was a freshman at Santa Clara University he ran into some adversity during practice. When dribbling the ball up the court as the point guard to set up the team’s offense he was constantly having the basketball stolen from him. And, he couldn’t figure out why. So in this situation, he had two choices. Focus on the frustration of constantly getting the ball stolen from him (fixed mindset) or use this adversity as a way to grow (growth mindset). So he pulled aside his defender, and simply asked him,” Why is it so easy for you to steal the ball from me?” His defender showed him how he was exposing the basketball and a new technique he could use when dribbling in order to protect the basketball. He chose to see the situation as an opportunity to get better, not one that defined him or his skill set as one that was fixed or limited.
Look at all the businesses and leaders who saw an opportunity in the pandemic and will walk out on the other side with more efficiencies, another vertical, or even a completely new business that will put them in a position to win in the future.
RESILIENCE
Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” quickly from adversity to a beautiful state. In this world of constant distraction, unprecedented uncertainty, and rapid change we are always being knocked out of balance. Our entire day is about being resilient enough to come back to the present moment to focus on what actually matters. The work. The relationships. The vision. It’s happening all day long. Which is why resilience is a foundational skill for anyone in a leadership position.
Our ability to lead through adversity is not about what happens, but how we can create awareness of, and manage our emotional state, on a moment-to-moment basis. It’s clear that the old school, grind it out at all costs, type of resilience is no longer working. It’s part of the reason burnout and mental health challenges are at an all-time high. Resilience in today’s world has to include counter-cultural approaches like rest, non-resistance and self-forgiveness.
This is something we can learn from professional athletes who spend a good amount of time focusing on recovery. The ice baths, the physical therapy, and focus on nutrition all fuel their ability to be resilient. They know that rest and a reset are all components of their ability to bounce back. When they lose a tough game in the playoffs they don’t immediately go to the gym to work harder. They know deep rest is what is most helpful for recovery. The deeper you rest the quicker you can bounce back. Something very counter-cultural in our society.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is the ability to create the non-judgemental awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. A Forbes article shows that we’re only present about 50% of the day. We spend time in the past stuck in guilt, anger, or regret. Or we’re in the future in anxiety, planning, or worry. But the best thing you can do for your future-self, the future of your organization, and the future of the people you lead is to be fully in the present moment.
A perfect example is when adversity hits. So many times when this happens we get caught in the storm. We become our emotions. But with mindfulness, we can:
- Create awareness of the stressor or trigger
- Detach emotionally
- Get objective
Then, instead of becoming the storm, we are simply the observer of the storm from the present moment. That’s how we can step back into our power. From this place, we can make decisions aligned with our vision and values. When we operate from this place of integrity, we instill trust in the people we lead. Amateurs react. Leaders stand their ground. They go within so they can respond with intention.
The bottom line is technology advances, information, distractions, disruption, and policy changes are not going to slow down. Our external environment is not going to change. The change has to come from the place within. And when we go within we can adopt a growth mindset, cultivate resilience, and develop the mindfulness needed to lead in this demanding, rapidly changing, and uncertain world.
