Five ways to be a responsible and resilient leader
What are we asking of our virtuous leaders in this critical moment?
Do we expect them to enable our human endeavours to flourish despite the wicked global problems, not least of which is the climate crisis? To meet the challenges of social injustice? And to do so in the face of increasing polarisation, misinformation, and radical uncertainty?
As leaders, we can use our position to do something bigger. To widen social and collective responsibility and use it to tackle and respond to issues such as climate, equity and social justice. Here are 5 ways to continue to be responsible in a leadership role…
- Slow down
Responsible leadership does not veer away from the practical and the day to day needs of leading. Rather, it becomes a leadership that is more directly concerned with seeding change, with setting new pathways and trajectories of inclusive societal value. It slows things down, it embraces more people, asking more difficult questions. In doing so, it starts to define value and benefits that go well beyond the narrow confines and concerns of those whose stakes are already assured.
- Embrace change
The work of changing up, of becoming more of a citizen, a more responsible leader, more engaged in creating a different kind of value, deeper purpose, collaborating for greater social justice, and a better future, is undeniably hard to do. However, it is important as leaders that we are not deterred and continue to embrace change and stay engaged with our teams, our role and our organisation’s future.
- Stay humorous and hopeful
It isn’t easy when stakes and expectations are high. Humour and hope help us to cope with the stressful burdens of being imperfect, but also of leading responsibly in such difficult and uncertain times. Focussing on feelings- not denying our emotions and using these, as well as our capacity to think through and solve problems, are the other two pillars of coping with stress. Not only because laughter is a safety valve, but also because it is a collective balm that keeps the human spirit strong!
- Join a group
It is an extraordinary resource for responsible leaders. And like all relationships of collaboration and interdependence, it requires us to attend to the dynamic dance of change, challenge, diversity, difference, and renewal over time.
- Ask yourself the big question…
The issues and challenges that face your stakeholders, our communities, our world can seem huge, insurmountable. Issues like democracy and truth, climate crisis, equity and social justice. You can make a significant impact through small daily gestures, acts of micro leadership, actions that nurture hope, that foster change. It may be a micro act that makes a big difference, or several actions that collectively contribute to make a lasting impact. As a leader, ask yourself ‘what is the smallest step I can take to make a difference?’
This blog was written by Tammy Tawadros. Tammy is an executive coach, organisational consultant and work psychologist, with years experience of design and delivery of a broad range of leadership, organisational development and culture change initiatives. She also co-leads CCE’s Aspiring Chief Executives (ACE) and New Chief Executives (NCE) programmes.
©️Tammy Tawadros December 2024 All Rights Reserved.