Resilience and Leadership: How to Keep Going When the World Feels Hostile - March 31, 2025

Mar 31

4 min read

These last few months have been full of social and political upheaval, creating challenges and conversations for leaders that are completely unique. As during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders are now faced with obstacles for which there is no playbook, because they haven't come up in our lifetime. Depending on your organization and your own perspective, you may be experiencing a shift wherein expectations put on you as a leader are changing in unpredictable ways.

I've spent my entire career committed to inclusion, equity, and ethical leadership. Over the course of the past several months, I have at times felt exhausted, discouraged, outraged, and even silenced. The weight of witnessing setbacks, whether in policy, workplace culture, or broader societal movements, has been overwhelming.

And yet! We are being called to be resilient leaders now more than ever. Because the world feels so chaotic, this is exactly the time we must build our resiliency stronger than ever. Will you answer the call?

What is Resiliency?

The Oxford American Dictionary: (1) The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. (2) The ability of a substance or object to spring

back into shape; elasticity.

Upon reading this definition of resilience, I immediately thought of the stretchy pants that I like to wear on Thanksgiving.

Kidding aside, this definition also applies to people. One of my clients is a human example of resiliency. He is a marathon runner and spends months and months training to build his capacity to run a marathon.

His training includes practicing speeding up, slowing down, stopping to rehydrate, use the bathroom, eating... he has to do all these things along the way so he can complete the 26.2-mile challenge. He's building resiliency.

We need to do things to build our resiliency, to lead during these really difficult times. We have to be able to rise to the challenge, meet the challenge, and then recover physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually so we can continue to do our work day after day.

True resilience is about bouncing back from adversity. Resiliency isn't about ignoring the emotions that are stirred up, it's about finding ways to keep leading with purpose and impact despite the emotions.

How to Build Your Resiliency Right Now

Here are some ideas you can take on to strengthen your resiliency now.

Remember Your Core Values

When the world feels uncertain, I find revisiting my core values to be an anchor. I ask myself:

Why did I step into leadership?
What are the non-negotiable values that guide my decisions?
Which values need to be prioritized right now?

Resilient leadership isn't about reacting to every challenge, it's about grounding yourself in what matters most.

Emotional Agility vs. Emotional Numbing

It's tempting to disconnect from difficult emotions to avoid burnout, but resilience isn't about suppressing feelings. It's about managing them. Emotional agility, a term coined by psychologist Dr. Susan David, is about acknowledging the emotion without letting it dictate your actions.

Watch out for numbing behaviors, which can range from bingeing TV shows, overworking, and doomscrolling, to overeating, gambling, and substance abuse.

We cannot selectively numb emotion. If we numb the dark, we numb the light. If we take the edge off pain and discomfort, we are, by default, taking the edge off joy, love, belonging, and the other emotions that give meaning

to our lives.

-Brene Brown in "Dare to Lead"

Influence Where You Can

One of the biggest challenges in times of uncertainty is the feeling of powerlessness. Instead of focusing on what you can't control, ask yourself, "What can I influence today?"

Whether it's advocating for fair policies within your company, mentoring an emerging leader, or simply leading with integrity, small actions compound over time to make a difference.

The Importance of Community

Resilient leaders don't go it alone. I was reminded of this when I joined two community calls last week with people in my network of coaches and learning development professionals. These allies and like-minded leaders provided emotional support to each other and offered strategic insights.

The groups reminded me of the tools I have available as a coach, and I left the call feeling lighter. Who are your trusted colleagues, mentors, or networks that help you stay grounded? Proactively connect with them.

Embrace Ongoing Self-Care

In my coaching work, I talk a lot about how critical it is to replenish your energy every single day. Burnout doesn't serve you, your team, or the causes you care about. Protecting and replenishing your energy through radical self-care does.

Rest, creative outlets, time in nature, boundaries around work, exercise, sleep, and healthy foods are all practices that will ensure you have the capacity to lead for the long haul. Self-preservation is not selfish; it is a necessary strategy for sustainable leadership.

Don't Forget About Hope

Choosing to be hopeful right now is an active choice. Hope doesn't mean ignoring reality; it means believing that meaningful change is still possible. And it is! Look for the doors that are opening around you.

As you build your resiliency, seek out the positive, and you will always be able to find something.

You are a Resilient Leader

All of us have the ability to cultivate resiliency, no matter what is going on in the world. It's not about denying that we are living through challenges; it's about making a conscious choice to navigate these times with intention, clarity, and endurance.

If you'd like support in navigating these unique challenges in leadership, I'd love to connect with you and talk through what that could look like for you and/or your team.

Connect with me here.