Resilience is not the same as endurance, ‘staying power’ or ‘hardness’. Resilience is a sustainable leadership practice that enables an individual to remain resourced and calm in the face of mounting pressure.

We recently wrote about the Red Queen Effect – running only to stay in the same spot – and for leaders striving to make progress in this relentless and unpredictable environment resilience is key. It is a growing conversation among leaders, and we are building out resilience skills in our leadership development programmes to give leaders the necessary understanding and tools to build their resilience and cultivate that culture around them.

Recently when we were all together we explored the topic further as our resiliency as a collective is important. Not only did we learn more about the importance of resilience, but it enhanced our understanding of coping methodologies, when and where to use them, through reflection on previous experiences of acute pressure. We also shared these experiences with our colleagues - bringing a higher sense and understanding of what impacts each of us.

Which brings us to our first learning: pressure is not stress. This is an important distinction to make. The three key conditions for stress are that you perceive a high degree of uncertainty, that you perceive that you have a low level of control, and that you perceive that the stakes are high.

Stress has a physiological impact on your adrenaline, your heart, your cortisol and immune system as well as your mood. Resilience helps not only mitigate the risk of tipping over into a state of stress but can also help you rebalance and bounce back.

Here are four habits of mind leaders can use to boost mental resilience:

Reflection, not rumination.
Review the past and plan for the future – avoid regretting the past and holding anxiety for what’s to come.

Be present.
Identify grounding activities for yourself (as simple as a walk in nature!) or use breathwork.

Focus on what you can control and influence.
Bearing in mind that control is an illusion…
… what is beyond your control or influence that captures your mental energy and increases your stress?

New perspectives help.
Give space for gratitude for what is there and detach yourself from your position to regain perspective.

Cultivating resilience is a process, and sometimes for leaders even identifying the need to build resilience can be challenging. However, there are some simple things leaders can do to build mental resilience and ensure sustainable leadership through high pressure periods.

This is the first in a series on resilience. Stay tuned for our Managing Partner Ally’s experience finding balance as a leader! For more on how to manage and build resilience, check out this blog on building a Reservoir of Resilience by Deborah.