That’s how a client summarized an example I was using.

Resilience is often thought of as an elasticity, the capacity to withstand and bounce back.

And it is.

(I created a whole keynote on how to develop this in yourself and your team in a business context.)

But, as a colleague astutely pointed out to me years ago, resilience is also for when things are going well.

Why?

Because, as is the case for this client, when senior leaders elevate to bigger roles, the spotlight is brighter, the responsibilities greater, and the visibility extends to more audiences.

Which mean higher stakes, not just for the leader, but their organizations, their teams, and the initiatives they’re advancing.

7 suggestions for enhancing resilience when things are going your way in spades:

  • Maintain perspective and humility despite growing accomplishment, continue your bent toward learning
  • Cultivate deeper understanding of influence and building key relationships, make a plan for both
  • Master delegation and put an exemplary team in place
  • Grow your confidence and self-trust (rather than arrogance) as the spotlight gets brighter
  • Seek groundedness in what refuels and replenishes you with a firm commitment to the activities and people that provide nourishment
  • Ensure that you have one or two close advisors whom you truly trust to have your back and share their thinking
  • Know your values and do not waver

Tiger Woods, for all his immense talent, seemed to struggle with scandal as his success grew.

And Taylor Swift seems to grow into – and with — her success.

 

Working with senior executives as they level up into bigger, more impactful roles is one of the primary reasons I’m invited to work with extraordinary leaders.  For more on ways of working together, go here.  And for one of the most popular strategic programs for senior leaders that I offer, go here to learn about the Quarterly Trusted Guidance Annual Program.  Clients love that it’s heavy on return and light on the calendar.

No matter what you’re doing this holiday weekend, I hope it replenishes you.