In uncertain times, leaders are often told to “be resilient,” but rarely taught what resilience actually looks like in practice. The truth is, resilience isn’t a personality trait reserved for a select few. It’s a learnable skill — and one that becomes essential when the world keeps shifting underneath us.
Over the last several years, leaders at every level have been navigating a world in transition. Expectations are changing. Teams are stretched thin. The speed of decision-making is accelerating. And the pressure to stay composed while carrying more emotional, operational, and cultural responsibility than ever before is real.
What I’ve learned — in my own leadership, in my doctoral research, and in my work with executives across Fortune 1000 organizations — is this:
Resilience always begins on the inside.
Before a leader can inspire clarity in a room, they must cultivate clarity within themselves. Before they can steady a team, they must steady their own nervous system. Before they can navigate uncertainty with courage, they must be anchored in something deeper than the circumstances of the moment.
And that anchoring starts with a deceptively simple question:
“What do I need to stay grounded today?”
It’s a question that brings you back into your body, into the present moment, and into your own leadership center — even on the busiest days. Leaders often assume grounding requires a meditation retreat or an hour of quiet reflection. In reality, grounding can be found in five-minute practices woven into your daily rhythm:
A moment of intentional breathing before a meeting
A step outside to reconnect with your senses
A reset ritual between tasks
A boundary that protects your attention
A simple affirmation: I can meet this moment with clarity
Resilience isn’t about white-knuckling your way through stress.
