Leadership Resilience

“This individual strength and competence is the much needed Resilience attribute – required ever so much in Leaders – as they lead their teams through tough times and challenges.“   

The year was 1986. It was a joyous, euphoric time. It was the annual convocation at XLRI – scheduled as always, a year after the passing out year, providing a great homecoming back to the alma mater after a year in the real-world, a chance to meet old friends again in the old familiar environment and relive the nostalgic times. We were all dressed up in the flowing convocation gowns, assembled late evening in the majestic Tata auditorium ready to finally receive our much-anticipated diplomas and hear with bated breath the august speeches of the inspiring leaders that made up the dais.

Before the actual presentations began and after the early speeches, came the address from the Dean of the institute. Many before him spoke loftily and inspiringly on how we could change the world, address key national priorities and address the many gaps that a developing nation needs to address. We listened intently, albeit a little impatiently.

Then came the short, very short address from the Dean of the institute. He had a crisp, intentionally hard-hitting, counter-to-expectations message, as he wished us, in words that I will never forget – “I wish you all a hard and tough time…. (and many seconds later, after a silent, pregnant pause that seemed to stretch to eternity!) ….. for that is what will bring out the best in you”. We were aghast.

We were sure he meant well and the very best for us, but….. there were murmurs in the audience…. but that of course quickly dimmed away in the din and the celebratory aftermath. For me, though, that message has been a constant reminder through the many tough times in my long, professional career even as I have seen my colleagues and fellow career travelers navigate the many bumps on the road. They took the many curved balls that life threw at them, working through them with perseverance and tenacity, at times with boldness and courage, and at other time drawing upon their inner strength, leaning on the shoulders of their well-wishers and compatriots and coming out stronger and even more successful (however you measure success!).

This individual strength and competence is the much needed Resilience attribute – required ever so much in Leaders – as they lead their teams through tough times and challenges. It is the leaders’ ability to take challenges on,  be inspiring and motivating, ‘sense-making’ in increasing un-certain times and bringing together the ‘dynamic capability’ to garner resources, and envision a more positive future that makes happen the ‘new’ with confidence and purpose.  The ability to combine realism with optimism, and demonstrating agility and flexibility helps the leader motivate an entire organization forward.

So often in my long career and even in my shorter Leadership Coaching experience, I have seen leaders who confronted challenges, sought and accepted the more difficult assignments over the more glamorous, come out stronger and carve out a new image and credibility for themselves and their teams. They have used the opportunity of a crisis, treaded the difficult path laden with minefields that could blow up in their faces (or careers), demonstrated courage and led their teams with conviction that so often have seen their careers (along with their teams’) flourish to a new trajectory. They have created fresh pathways opening up to new projects, new initiatives and programs, towards bigger and much tougher roles and assignments too!

A classic and probably extreme recent example of Resilient Leadership comes to mind. Think of the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse accident where 40-human lives were at stake. The Leadership at hand and beyond had to balance the immediate short-term needs of survival (through implementing food and oxygen pipes) while working through longer term solution alternatives. None seemed easy, all had risks – the risks had to be weighed against the chances of success, even as constant evaluation of potentially new alternatives had to be considered that included moving heavy advanced equipment into a fragile environment. Most importantly as hours extended to days and the days extended to weeks (17 days finally!), the key need was to maintain the human contact, communicate constantly that help was coming, keep the spirits and morale of the deflated, anxious, hungry and wet workers in a dim and dark environment, hopeful and supportive of each other.

As one attempt after another failed or struck new obstacles, the leadership challenges surmounted new peaks – keeping the family informed and hopeful, reaching out for help and international expertise, managing and leading escalations to political leadership and global assistance. Finally, in a last ditch attempt, demonstrating admirable strength of conviction and belief in the human spirit and frugal innovation, a team of specialized ‘rat-miners’ were called in to help and ….. how they helped! Using a process considered dangerous and risky, but at the same time fast and possible, the human spirit and endeavor prevailed.

Over the next 24 hours, the miners worked in two teams of three each, with one person drilling, the second collecting the debris and the third pushing it out of the pipe. The rescue was successful on Tuesday evening when all the workers were retrieved from the tunnel, as they were wheeled out by rescuers on stretchers through a 90cm wide steel pipe.

The first human face that emerged from that accident beamed the happiness of a nation, world-wide. The face of a resilient India?

The above example is clearly an outstanding demonstration of resilient leadership that was tested to its utmost!

Clearly Resilience is going to be one of the top few critical leadership competencies in the disruptive, volatile and interesting times ahead…

Author – Dr. Raj Swaminathan, CFI Coach