Recommendations on How to Be an Exceptional Leader during Adversity

As you can see from the stories we shared, adversity is inevitable, but it is possible to overcome. Whether you are young or old, whether you hold a college degree or a high school diploma, whether this is your first job or your sixth, challenges will most likely come your way. Instead of being discouraged, you can use these lessons to rise to the occasion and bring you and your team to success.

Before we close out this series (and prepare for our next one), we wanted to leave you all with an all-encompassing list of simple tips and recommendations you can implement when you are facing adversity, or even if you just want to improve as a leader. These will be based on a couple of articles we used as secondary research (referenced below), as well as our interviewees and our own experiences. Hope this helps, and best of luck in all of your future endeavors!

Tips for Leadership when Battling Adversity

1. Build trust and relationships -- it is important to have a support system and people you can turn to when you are feeling pressured to perform.

2. Communication is key -- be transparent with your team and stakeholders, hold meetings often, and ensure that tasks and goals are clearly outlined.

3. Be confident -- people believe in you and you should too! You have the skills and abilities to be in this position and confidence will help you feel good about your actions.

4. Be kind and compassionate -- we are all humans, so be empathetic towards others and be a source of help and support they can turn to.

5. Plan ahead and be strategic -- it is always beneficial to have adequate preparation and make decisions based on facts and data, considering all angles and risks.

6. Recognize your limits -- you may not always have the answer or be able to perform at the same level every day, and that is okay! Communicate your limits and boundaries to others.

7. Adaptability is vital -- some things are out of your control, and the only thing you can do is persevere and put the situation into perspective. It’s not the end of the world, there are always ways to make small incremental changes that help build flexibility in the process.

8. Exemplify ownership and integrity -- when you do something wrong, admit it as soon as possible. Failure is necessary, and instead of blaming others or hiding it, share honestly with your team, so you can proceed together.

9. Share your voice -- speak up when needed and don’t be afraid to give an unpopular opinion.

10. Allow yourself to rest and reflect -- take breaks and give yourself time to take care of yourself. This will give you the energy and motivation to move forward.

That is it, everyone! Although there are many more factors that may play a role in overcoming adversity, these were the ones that stood out to us the most as the most beneficial for personal development and building resilience. We hope that you all can implement these recommendations into your daily routines, and we are so excited to see the growth and progress of our global leaders!

Articles Referenced: “Building Resilience”, “Crucibles of Leadership”, “Rebounding after a Career Disaster”, “How to Bounce Back from Adversity”