Resiliency isn't something that's boastful. It doesn't stand on podiums, self-congratulating or seeking applause. It quietly manifests when the simpler option would be to step back, yet you choose to proceed. This unyielding trait does not only construct individuals but entire teams, communities, and generations, and it is a key factor in municipal government and management.
Resilience is seldom built in comfort zones. It is shaped during unseen moments when plans fall apart and days when leadership feels more like survival than strategy. It's not just about physical endurance but also mental fortitude. This concept aligns with what I experienced during a deployment to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. The heat was unbearable, the conditions were harsh, and the constant threat of rocket attacks was mentally exhausting. However, it was during these trying times that I learned the true meaning of resilience. It wasn't about grand gestures of bravery. It was about quiet courage, making the right decisions, even when fear tries to hold you back.
Later in my career, I encountered a different kind of challenge. Due to restructuring, a new flight had to be created from the members other leaders had discarded. It was a test of my resilience to lead this team. But I realized that resilience isn't solely about individual strength; it's also about fostering a resilient community. I saw that when leaders show faith in others, especially in circumstances where no one else would, they have the capacity to kindle a spark of resilience in those who may have forgotten they even possessed it. Within a month, this new team became the most effective group on the installation, not because of superior resources or skills but because of the resilience we cultivated.
From my own experiences, I've come to understand that resilient leaders share certain traits. They are adaptable and embrace change rather than resisting it. They have high emotional intelligence, recognizing and leading through fear, anger, and grief rather than disregarding it. They possess a growth mindset, viewing every setback as a lesson rather than a defeat. And they demonstrate courage, being vulnerable enough to ask for help, strong enough to endure the unknown, and wise enough to realize that success is rarely achieved alone.
Resilience doesn't guarantee an easy path; it does, however, promise a significant one. The question is not "Will adversity come?" but "What will I do when it does?" Resilience is not just a trait we model, it's something we pass on. The quiet strength we build today can become the foundation others will stand on tomorrow. Therefore, it's crucial to reflect on instances when you've demonstrated resilience and consider how you can teach others to do the same. Because ultimately, leadership isn't about titles; it's about leaving a legacy. And resilience is the legacy that endures.
In the words of Charles Darwin, "It's not the strongest who survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change."
Charles Darwin, "The Origin of Species" (London: John Murray, 1859).
David J. Snowden and Mary E. Boone, "A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making," Harvard Business Review, November 2007, https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making.
Carol Dweck, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" (New York: Random House, 2006).
Daniel Goleman, "Emotional Intelligence" (New York: Bantam Books, 1995).
John C. Maxwell, "The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow" (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999).
Peter F. Drucker, "The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done" (New York: HarperBusiness, 1967).
Robert K. Greenleaf, "Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness" (New York: Paulist Press, 1977).