All leaders will make mistakes, all leaders will face adversity; good leaders need to be resilient to keep the team moving toward strategic goals.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back or to return to the previous state. In leadership terms this means being more able to deal with stress, by having strategies, support, coping mechanisms and being able to draw upon the emotional reserves within.

Evolution tells us that those who can adapt are more likely to survive, those that do not become extinct. So too in business, the companies that are unable to adapt to competition and changing markets cease to exist.  One of the reasons companies resist to adapt or to be flexible, is down to their leadership. Sometimes leaders don’t make the right decisions when times get tough, sometimes it is just fear of change or the unknown.

So is resilience a trait that some people are born with or can it be learned? Whilst some may seem to possess it naturally, it can also be acquired during exposure to challenges faced interacting with our environments for example around the family, in schools, business and life in general. It is about the lessons learned from such opportunities, by being aware and consciously reflecting as we work through stress helps build strength, however we also need coping tools, resources and support to become resilient enough to bounce back stronger than before.

Coaching can help leaders assess and build their ability to bounce back and adapt at work. It can also be the support needed to tackle the professional and personal challenges we all face in life. Strong leaders are very self-aware and seek development, so find ways to continue to build their resiliency skills.