In every organization, navigating significant changes can be a daunting task, testing your emotional balance. You might think, "It's easy to use these tools when things are going well, but how do I stay emotionally resilient when things take a downturn?" The truth is, even in the midst of changes that may impact your role, it's nearly possible to maintain your emotional well-being.
Many situations can be challenging for leaders to handle: downsizing, merging, restructuring, relocating, introducing new leadership, facing project failures, and dealing with ethical or moral dilemmas, among others. Essentially, any change that disrupts your regular routine can be demanding. These situations don't have to be disastrous, but they often involve change that takes you out of your comfort zone.
When your organization experiences a breakdown, it's a tough situation. Emotions run high and people are on edge. The key is to acknowledge the emotions while preventing negativity from taking over. This is the essence of emotional resilience.
Bad things will happen, but as a leader, how can you build your own resilience and guide others toward a brighter future?
The first step in becoming a resilient leader during times of tension and complexity is to be aware of and manage your emotions. In an issue of Leadership Quarterly, Laura Little, Janaki Gooty, and Michelle Williams explored "the role of leader emotional management." Their study of 163 leaders and their followers concluded that when followers perceive that a leader is effectively managing emotions, focusing on meeting expectations, and creating a vision for the future, they have greater confidence in the leadership being provided to them. Alternatively, when followers perceive that leaders suppress their emotions, it leads to a lack of leadership and job satisfaction among their followers.
So, what can you do as a leader to foster effective leadership in challenging times? How can you meet expectations while instilling hope and a sense of purpose in your followers during tough situations?
Consider adopting the "CHECK" approach to maintain your emotional balance:
Consider the Situation
Observe the situation objectively.
Identify the emotions it triggers and their root causes.
Examine whether your emotions are creating false expectations that need managing.
Hear from Others
Seek input from two or three trusted individuals who can offer valuable perspectives.
Avoid overindulging in opinions, as it can lead to unproductive gossip and negativity.
Eliminate Negativity
Martin Seligman, past president of the American Psychological Association tells us we need to develop a “positive explanatory style." This is not “The Power of Positive Thinking” we all have heard about. It is much deeper than this. Seligman says, “What you think when you fail is crucial.“ How you explain things to yourself when they don’t go your way is the difference between helplessness and being energized.
Acknowledge that pessimism suggests there's no hope or solution, which is not true.
Filter out non-constructive thoughts and focus on constructive solutions.
Cultivate a "positive explanatory style" as suggested by Martin Seligman, past president of the American Psychological Association. This says that how you explain things when they don’t go your way is the difference between helplessness and being energized.
Create a Plan - Organize and Carry Out
Define your desired outcome and work backward.
Document the necessary steps to achieve that outcome.
Clearly envision success before implementing your plan.
Keep Your Head Up - Stay Consistent, Present, and Motivated
Stay positive and resilient, no matter the challenges you are facing.
Find ways to step back, clear your mind, and rejuvenate yourself to stay focused and motivated.
HOMEWORK
Reflect on this acronym and how it can be applied to a challenging situation you're facing.
Write "CHECK" on a note and place it somewhere visible as a reminder of this process. Whenever you see it, contemplate how it can be utilized to address the tensions affecting you and your organization.