Leadership & You #4

A leader has a responsibility to role model a resilient mindset to overcome difficult times. Nothing goes to plan. Especially living in regional Australia there are always challenges – often out of our control, whether it be natural disasters, the impact of climate change, Government inaction, or the lack of resources. Often these challenges can seem endless and unrelenting, testing the resilience of us all, which can generate a climate of fatigue and pessimism. How a leader thinks and behaves in difficult moments is what defines their character.

The one thing communities must be in regional Australia is resilient.

All leaders have an important role to play in imparting resilience into the next generation. Resilience is acquired through experience. How to get through challenging times is a key life lesson. This requires a collective community response from parents, teachers, sports coaches, community leaders, and local role models. It starts by having the right mindset. Being resilient takes constant practice and application in everything you do. Resilience is a mindset!

Optimistic people are more resilient than pessimistic people. As Henry Ford famously quoted:

“If you think you can – you are absolutely right! …. If you think you cannot – you are absolutely right!”

This quote highlights how much attitude can influence success or failure.

When the world turns against us, when things don’t work out, when life becomes challenging, how a leader responds is everything. It sets an example for others to follow.

• Does the leader justify or lay blame? Point fingers? Lose their temper? Look for scapegoats? Make excuses?

Or

• Does the leader draw breath? Think and consider options and context? Roll up their sleeves? Seek and explore solutions? Create or innovate ideas? Engage people to help solve a problem?

Difficulties can only be overcome through resilience and optimism. This requires a leader’s intent! The leader must apply the right mindset. When we are confronted by what may seem like insurmountable challenges, it is always easy to default to why something is not working, or who is at fault for the problem. Laying blame serves no immediate purpose.

It is not what happens to you – but what you do about it.

Above the line thinking

So how do we confront and get through challenging times? There is no silver bullet solution. But what a leader can do is to coach people into adopting the right mindset. This is something leaders and parents must role model.

Above the Line v Below the Line thinking is a great tool and mindset to apply in any family, team, or community setting. simply endorsing the right mindset to any problem or circumstance adds an important leadership dynamic to a role model. Above the line thinking fuels a sense of “can do” into team members, and, importantly, forces people to adopt a growth mindset (rather than fixed mindset) to explore potential solutions to problems.

Above the Line thinking is what gets people through times of adversity. But it requires practice and application. This is something managers, teachers, parents and coaches can lead and role model. It is not something you thump the table and demand. It is a mindset, a core value to adopt and apply in times of adversity. Explore what above the line thinking means with your team and come up with your own descriptors. It will become an important coaching tool that will enable repetition and application by a leader.

Adversity can only be overcome by adopting the right “above the line” mindset.

Leadership Lesson

It is what a leader role models in times of adversity that provides lifelong lessons to our next generation.
Resilience requires a “can do” mindset.

Facta Non Verba – Deeds Not Words