Are you a manager, company owner, or aspiring leader? If so, you may be wondering how to develop the leadership qualities that will help you succeed. Courage, vision, determination, and good communication skills are all well-known attributes displayed by the best leaders. But without mental resilience, none of these qualities will matter very much. Here’s why being mentally strong is the forgotten key to leadership, and how you can develop mental toughness.
What Is Mental Resilience?
Mental resilience is the ability to bounce back after significant stress or adversity. With it, you can learn how to adapt to almost any challenge. Without it, even minor setbacks could potentially break you and cause you to give up. Mental resilience is closely associated with a positive mindset, which can turn setbacks into valuable learning opportunities.
Why Mental Strength Is Crucial for Good Leaders
Leaders often have to deal with high levels of stress and responsibility in their day-to-day lives. Mental strength can help them manage their stress and make sound decisions in high-risk situations. A leader who displays mental resilience can also set the tone in the workplace and inspire team members to respond in a healthy way to challenges.
How to Develop Mental Toughness
If you’re not as mentally tough as you’d like to be, don’t worry. Mental resilience is something you can learn as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort. It’s important to be patient with yourself as you learn how to build up a mental reservoir of strength. Once you develop it, you’ll have an easier time earning the confidence and respect of your colleagues and employees. Here are a few tried-and-true methods for developing mental toughness.
Talk to a Therapist
Some people view regular therapy sessions as a sign of weakness, but in reality, improving oneself through therapy is an indication of maturity and courage. A good therapist can help you understand your emotional reactions to stress and teach you healthier coping strategies. With consistent treatment, you can learn how to respond to stressful situations in healthy, resilient ways. If you’re hesitant to schedule that first appointment, consider starting with online therapy. Many people prefer to meet with a therapist online because it’s convenient, discreet, and can be done without leaving the home or office.
Be Self-Aware
Being self-aware is one of the most crucial steps on the journey to mental resilience. It can be painful to take an honest look at your flaws. But remember, the purpose of identifying your weaknesses is so that you can work to overcome them and turn them into strengths. Try journaling to help you process your emotions and gain clarity before making any rash decisions. Pausing to self-reflect before responding to strong emotions is one of the hallmarks of a mentally strong leader.
Take Accountability
People who are mentally weak tend to blame all of their problems and struggles on someone or something else. For example, a poor leader might blame his team for missing a deadline when he failed to provide clear project instructions and expectations. Mentally strong leaders, on the other hand, are self-aware enough to take accountability for their own actions. They know how to take responsibility, apologize, and make changes to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Focus on What You Can Control
It’s natural to fall apart if you’re constantly ruminating on things you can’t control. Building mental resilience and stamina involves focusing on the things you can control and letting everything else go. If there’s something you want to change but can’t, give yourself a minute to internally reflect on the problem while breathing deeply to reduce anxiety. Once you’ve given yourself a moment to process the disappointment, push the thing you can’t control out of your mind. Then, shift your focus and effort to the things you can do to make a positive difference in the workplace.
Reflect, Don’t Obsess
Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s water under the bridge” when referring to a past mistake or problem? This idiom may have originated in the early 1900s, but it’s just as applicable today as it was back then. If you want to be a mentally strong leader, it’s crucial not to obsess over past errors or oversights. You can’t go back in time to change the course of events, so fixating on the past will only cause internal torment and increased anxiety. Instead, reflect on what you learned from the mistake, then move past it with increased confidence and mental resilience.
Build a Support System
Being a leader doesn’t mean elevating yourself above everyone else or becoming too independent to rely on anyone else. Intentional isolation does not equal strength. Instead, take time to build a support system of people you respect and trust. Your support system may consist of family members, coworkers, and mentors. When you’re feeling weak and unsure of yourself, reach out to your support system. They’ll build you up, talk you through challenging situations, and help you become a stronger, more mentally tough leader.
Conclusion
Becoming a mentally resilient leader isn’t something that happens overnight. It requires time, effort, and courage. That’s why so many leaders never realize their full potential and never earn the respect of their colleagues. If you want to become the type of leader others can look up to and follow, implement these suggestions into your daily life. With consistency, you’ll soon develop the mental toughness you need to become a capable and confident leader.
Also Read: How Digital Leadership Is Redefining the Future of American Innovation
