In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Russell Harvey about how leaders can develop resilience in themselves and their teams. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Jonathan and Russell discussed the importance of resilience in leadership and personal life, emphasizing the need for leaders to model resilience for their teams and the importance of empathy and understanding in dealing with challenges. They also highlighted the need for resilience in organizations, the importance of optimism as a route to feeling positive, and the importance of adaptability and openness to change in maintaining resilience. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of resilience in the face of uncertainty and change, and the need for leaders to understand and foster resilience within themselves and their teams.
Resilience in Leadership and Politics
In the meeting, Jonathan and Russell discussed the importance of resilience in leadership and personal life, especially in the current challenging political and societal climate. Russell, a resilience coach, shared his background and his goal of positively affecting 100,000 people by 2025. They also touched on the political situation in England, with Russell explaining that the country had chosen Labour, but there was a strong underlying vote for reform. The conversation ended with both acknowledging the need for resilience in the face of extremism.
Resilience, Empathy, and Optimism in Leaders
Jonathan and Russell discussed the importance of resilience in organizations, emphasizing the need for leaders to model resilience for their teams. They agreed on the importance of defining resilience as "springing forward with learning" and moving away from toxic positivity. They also highlighted the need for empathy and understanding in dealing with personal and work-related challenges. Russell shared his approach of asking leaders about their recovery from recent times and what they have learned from it. Both agreed on the importance of optimism as a route to feeling positive.
Building Resilience in Leadership Conversations
Jonathan and Russell discussed the importance of resilience and optimism in leadership. Russell emphasized the need for leaders to hold optimistic conversations and support individual leaders in building resilience. He introduced the resilience wheel, a tool with seven aspects to help individuals, leaders, and teams build resilience. The key, according to Russell, is to engage with building and growing resilience to face life differently and better. He also highlighted the importance of challenging difficult realities while grounding conversations in reality, focusing on both the hard aspects and the strengths of the organization. Jonathan agreed, noting that sometimes people associate resilience and optimism with avoiding hard truths.
Resilience and Optimism in Leadership
Jonathan and Russell discussed the importance of resilience and optimism in leadership. Jonathan emphasized that resilience does not mean ignoring the realities around us, but rather facing them with optimism. Russell added that resilient individuals and leaders are comfortable with starting conversations, even if they may lead to negativity, as they are confident in their ability to steer the conversation back to something productive. He also highlighted the importance of making conscious decisions to build resilience and engage in learning from life's experiences. The conversation concluded with the importance of adaptability and openness to change in maintaining resilience.
Reframing Resilience in a Positive Light
Russell and Jonathan discussed the importance of resilience in the face of uncertainty and change. They agreed that resilience should not be used as a tool to exploit people, but rather as a means to empower individuals to navigate challenging situations. They also discussed the potential negative connotations of terms like "grit" and "resilience" when used in a toxic manner. Russell introduced the concept of "VUCA Prime" as a way to reframe resilience in a positive light, emphasizing the importance of learning and perseverance. The conversation concluded with a shared understanding of the need to have open and honest conversations about change and resilience.
Fostering Resilience in Leadership and Teams
Russell and Jonathan discussed the importance of resilience in leadership and team dynamics. Russell emphasized the need for leaders to understand and foster resilience within themselves and their teams, and suggested using psychometric tools like StrengthsFinder to identify individual strengths and delegate tasks accordingly. He also highlighted the interconnectedness of different aspects of resilience, such as attitude, purpose, confidence, adaptability, support network, and meaning. Jonathan agreed with Russell's suggestions and encouraged the audience to reach out to Russell for further guidance.
Listen to the webinar here:
