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“Managers manage actions, but Leaders manage mindset.”
– Susan Drumm
CEO Advisor, Executive Coach, Pattern-Recognition Expert,
and Leadership Change Agent.
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Get a taste of what effective leadership can do
Download How to Free Up 8+ Hours a Week: The Ultimate Guide to Delegation and free up eight hours from your work week.
Let’s be honest: if you’re waiting for things to “settle down,” you’re going to be waiting a long time.
Disruption isn’t a phase—it’s the backdrop of modern business. Market volatility, supply chain issues, AI-driven competition… The only thing certain about the future is that it’s uncertain.
So why do some leaders thrive in this chaos while others struggle to keep up?
It’s not luck. It’s resilience.
Resilient leaders don’t just react to disruption. They anticipate, adapt, and make bold moves—even when they don’t have all the answers. They don’t get stuck in hesitation or overwhelmed by uncertainty.
If you want to be the kind of leader who guides your team through disruption with confidence—not the one scrambling to keep up—start strengthening these five traits today.
1. Adaptability: Pivot Without Losing Focus
Here’s the truth: rigid leaders get left behind.
A McKinsey study found that companies that adjusted their business models quickly during the COVID-19 crisis saw 30% higher revenue growth than those that hesitated. That’s because adaptability isn’t just about surviving change—it’s about staying ahead of it.
The best leaders make adaptability part of their strategy, not just a last-minute scramble.
Try this:
- Create a “Rapid Response” Team. Who’s your go-to group when unexpected challenges hit? In private equity, this might be specialists who stabilize newly acquired firms. In tech, it could be a cross-functional team monitoring AI-driven market shifts.
- Run “Pre-Mortems.” Before launching a new initiative, ask: “If this fails, why will it fail?” This helps you identify blind spots before they become real problems.
- Use Scenario Planning. Instead of betting on one outcome, map out multiple possibilities. How will you pivot if market conditions shift faster than expected?
Great leaders don’t get stuck in outdated models. They stay flexible and keep their teams moving forward.
2. Clear Workplace Communication: Bring Order to Uncertainty
Uncertainty breeds fear. And when people are scared, silence from leadership is the fastest way to lose trust.
But too many leaders either communicate too little (leaving their teams confused) or too much (burying them in irrelevant details).
Gallup research shows that employees who trust their leaders are 61% more likely to stay with their company. That trust is built through consistent, clear, and confident communication.
Try this:
- Use the 3-Point Messaging Model every time you update your team:
- What we know – Provide facts, not speculation.
- What we don’t know – Acknowledge uncertainty rather than making empty promises.
- What we’re doing next – Outline the next steps, even if they evolve.
- Follow the “5-15” Rule. Five-minute high-level updates keep teams informed, while 15-minute deep dives should be reserved for when they’re actually needed.
- Master Radical Candor. Be direct and empathetic. Teams don’t need sugarcoating, but they also don’t need unnecessary panic. The best leaders strike that balance.
Resilient leaders bring clarity when everything else feels chaotic.
3. Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: Stay Steady Under Pressure
Ever walked into a room and immediately felt the tension?
That’s leadership energy at work. Whether they mean to or not, leaders set the emotional tone for their teams.
If you’re panicked, your team will be too. If you’re distracted, they’ll feel unmoored.
A Workforce Institute study found that 1 in 3 employees feel their manager doesn’t recognize the emotional impact they have on their team.
Ready to Lead With More Resilience?
At Meritage Leadership, we offer executive leadership development programs that help executives build resilience in the workplace, foster accountability, and lead high-performing teams with clarity, confidence, and impact.
If you’re ready to build resilience into your leadership strategy, let’s talk.
Download How to Free Up 8+ Hours a Week: The Ultimate Guide to Delegation and free up eight hours from your work week.