Growing up in poverty, Ginni Rometty reinvented herself many times over to keep her family afloat. That experience has helped shape her approach to leadership, which she calls good power.
She has used it to help IBM weather huge changes for 112 years. Here are some of her top lessons: 1. Embrace change.
1. Embrace Change
Resilient leaders recognize that the future is not predictable and can be full of disruptions, setbacks, and even crisis. They embrace change and know that focusing on the negative or dwelling on past mistakes can paralyze an organization and keep it from realizing its potential. Instead, they focus on the positive and are relentlessly looking ahead to create a vision for the future of their business that others can believe in, while developing the strategic plans necessary to vault their company into the future.
They also understand that they will face resistance to their decisions from time to time and are not afraid to have difficult conversations with dissenting employees. They are confident in their choices and have a strong sense of empathy that allows them to engage with employees who may disagree and to listen to feedback about how their changes can be made more effective.
As a result of their resilient leadership, these companies thrive during times of crisis and are better prepared to navigate future challenges. These leaders also help their teams to build resilience, by modeling it for them and by creating a culture that is safe to take risks and fail.
2. Focus on the Big Picture
When things get tough, resilient leaders focus on the big picture and maintain a positive mindset. This allows them to stay calm and guide their team during challenging times. It also helps them stay committed to their long-term goals and ensures that they are making the best decisions for the company.
For example, when IBM faced its first declining year in more than a decade, Rometty made the decision to shift the company into new growth opportunities—like hybrid cloud, security, and artificial intelligence. This required a massive culture shift and a significant investment in these new technologies. But she knew that it was a risk worth taking.
As a result, she was able to navigate the crisis and emerge stronger than before. This approach is often referred to as “resilient leadership” but it’s important to remember that resilience isn’t just about surviving crises—it’s about thriving in the face of adversity, challenges, and setbacks.
To develop this ability, resilient leaders rely on their support system and learn to embrace conflict. They also prioritize building a strong foundation for success and strive to create a work environment where everyone is valued and can thrive. Rometty also believes in the power of diversity and inclusion, a mission she continues to champion as the co-chair of OneTen, which is working to hire one million Black Americans into family-sustaining jobs by changing how employers recruit and develop talent.
3. Be Patient
As leaders, it’s not enough to prepare for every obstacle that may come your way. Whether it’s the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking revenue, or employee pressure, the unexpected is just a part of the job. To navigate these challenges, resilient leadership is necessary.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve your resilience and help others do the same. For starters, you can hone your mindfulness skills by focusing on your breath, practicing gratitude, and being present in the moment. Additionally, you can build your resilience by embracing the concept of failure as a learning opportunity and identifying the lessons you can take away from each setback.
Moreover, you can strengthen your resilience by ensuring you have a healthy work-life balance and seeking mental health support when needed. Finally, you can develop a stronger mindset by recognizing that uncertainty and change are an inevitable part of life and leadership. By embracing resilience, you can help your organization weather any storm and lead with confidence and courage. This is the type of leadership that will not only inspire your team, but also foster stronger and more cohesive organizations. It’s time to show your team how to be resilient. Let’s start today.
4. Be Compassionate
When people feel compassion from their leaders, they can connect with them in ways that increase loyalty and trust. This can make them more likely to perform at their best, and it may help the leader avoid making bad decisions when they’re feeling stressed or under pressure. Being compassionate also helps them stay motivated and engaged, which can improve their overall productivity and performance.
Compassionate actions can include listening nonjudgmentally, helping out colleagues, and giving your team members flexibility when needed. They may even go as far as advocating for the resources and support that their colleagues need, boosting the success of the organization as a whole. However, it’s important to remember that compassion doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice your own business goals for the sake of your team members. Rather, you should find a balance between your own needs as a leader and the needs of your team, finding a way to make everyone happy.
Resilient leadership is vital for leaders to navigate adversity, enabling them to overcome challenges and guide their teams with empathy, courage, and conviction. By focusing on resilience and developing the skills that lead to it, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.
5. Be Flexible
A resilient leader has the flexibility to adapt to different situations. They can quickly master new technology, vocabulary and operating rules. They take into account other people’s concerns and are willing to make changes as needed. And they are able to admit their mistakes.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Rometty knew that her employees would face unique challenges in addition to their regular job responsibilities. For example, they might have children to care for or be unable to travel. These unique adversities could have a significant impact on their ability to stay motivated and continue working toward the organization’s goals.
So, she embraced change and took steps to help her employees feel more comfortable with the situation. For example, she offered flexible working hours and provided support services. She also shifted the focus of the company to more innovative projects, like artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
As a result, she is now focused on building the leadership resilience of her employees, and the wider business community. She believes that resilience is a key to success in any industry, at all levels of business, and in all types of organizations. She calls for leaders to aspire to be “good power” in order to foster stronger and more resilient companies.
6. Take Risks
As a leader, you need to be ready to take risks to grow. However, you also need to be able to handle the consequences of those risks that don’t work out. Resilient leaders can bounce back from failures and continue to drive innovation. They can even turn setbacks into learning opportunities.
In addition to fostering environments that proactively enable resilience, you need to ensure that your organization has policies in place to help employees deal with unexpected challenges. For example, if an employee experiences a personal setback like miscarriage, sexual harassment, or a period of mental health decline, they need to know that the organization will be there for them.
Leadership resilience is not a trait that can be developed overnight, but it is important for you to have as a leader. In this era of uncertainty, resilient leadership is becoming increasingly critical for business success. By focusing on developing these skills, you can prepare yourself to overcome any challenge that comes your way. By taking the lead, you can create a more resilient workplace for your team members and yourself. In the words of THNK Faculty member Ien van Duijnhoven, “Now is the time for leaders to reclaim their power and courage”. We hope this blog helps you do just that.
7. Be Honest
As a leader, it is important to be honest. This is especially true during times of crisis. A resilient leader is not afraid to admit when they are wrong or make a mistake. They are also able to recognize when they need help from others. In fact, building resilience requires a strong support system. Leaders should seek out mentors and coaches who can provide them with guidance, feedback, and emotional support when needed.
Resilient leaders are able to adapt quickly and find opportunities in the midst of a crisis. They also inspire their teams to stay focused, work hard, and be courageous during challenging times. Leadership resilience is a vital skill that can be developed through practice and dedication. By building a strong support network, practicing mindfulness, embracing a growth mindset, and cultivating self-awareness, you can become more resilient as a leader.
In this week’s McKinsey Author Talk, Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, shares her leadership lessons—including why companies should hire for skills over degrees and her surefire tricks for developing resilience in the face of change. Watch the full video below or read Ginni’s latest book, Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World.
