Adversity has always been part of leadership. What matters most is how you choose to respond to it. Every challenge offers lessons that can strengthen your leadership and open the door to new opportunities.
In leadership, adversity is any disruption that forces change before you feel ready. (Let’s be honest … we’re never ready.) It can be external, internal, or a mix of both — and every leader encounters it. The difference between thriving and struggling often comes down to how you respond. And, believe it or not, you have a choice.
Adversity also brings uncertainty, frustration, fear, and even grief. These reactions are normal. Acknowledging your feelings and facts are the first step toward moving forward with clarity and strength.
Attempting to avoid adversity has negative consequences. When leaders ignore breakdowns or lie about mistakes or failures, they repeat mistakes, lose credibility, and weaken team trust. Innovation slows, and opportunities slip away. In addition, top team members leave (some while still collecting their paychecks).
Addressing adversity head-on prevents these costly setbacks. Working through adversity is never an easy process, especially when you’re not ready for it. But the good news is, you can do it. Remember, your team takes its cues from you. When you do the work, they follow your lead. When you avoid it, they mirror that too. Your willingness to grow, directly influences your team’s ability to navigate adversity and come out stronger.
7 Tips to Make You and Your Team Stronger
Get Real About What Happened. Everyone has experienced mistakes, failures, and unexpected adversity. There’s no shame in it. Breakdowns in projects and relationships can be due to things you did or didn’t do, and include relying on the way things have been done in the past. Some life and business disasters are beyond your control. Regardless, it’s important that you stop and assess what truly happened and tell the truth. Putting frosting on mud pie and calling it a cake doesn’t change it from a mud pie!
TIP: Take time to objectively review what happened using both good and not-so-good numbers and metrics. This process will tell you a story if you listen. Then, you are ready to move forward powerfully.
For example, Brad faced a major team conflict and hoped it would get resolved without him having to do anything. But after talking with his executive coach, he learned that was a fool’s game. So he prepared, talked with the team about his understanding of the conflict and asked the team for their input. Then, they brainstormed solutions. The following week, the team was working together and producing intended results the customer required. What had happened? Brad didn’t allow adversity to win — and neither did the team. Once he finally listened, allowed initiatives and let the team step up, the adversity that they had allow to stall them, lost its power.
Let Go of the Old. Emotional attachments to practices and systems can keep adversity around for a long time. Instead, look to see what is no longer working: system, hiring practices, team interactions, conflicts, or task assignments (to name a few).
TIP: If there is a team conflict, get it resolved. If you have a poor working relationship with a co-worker or boss, get it resolved. I think you get the idea …
Develop Empathy and Compassion. This can be difficult when you have little empathy for yourself and others. Seeing situations from others’ points of view makes it easier for people to feel heard by you. It also becomes easier for them to listen to you!
TIP: To develop your empathy skills and inner compassion, talk with a qualified coach or therapist, and do the inner work required. While there are also books and videos to guide the process and awareness … these do not replace working with a good therapist. Remember, there are no shortcuts!
Develop Inner Confidence. Fake it until you make it is an old cliché where people imitated confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset. But fake confidence can be easily spotted and creates distrust. Instead, develop true inner confidence which in turn creates success.
TIP: To develop your inner confidence, work on a project with your team. Hire the right coach to guide you and the team along the way to ensure success and keep everyone focused.
Be Responsible for What You Are Saying and Sharing. Today’s focus on authenticity and transparency can backfire when sharing TMI (too much information). It can damage relationships and the ability of people to trust you! This includes what you share with customers and top talent.
TIPS:
- Keep a private journal and write down your thoughts and feelings. Not everything needs to be shared.
- Develop mindful resilience by forgiving yourself and others. (This is an inner exercise for you only. Do not tell others, “I forgive you.” Why? Because doing so only creates more adversity.)
- Work with your coach and craft conversation points to share with your team and customers when sharing stories, bad news, or taking a new direction.
Focus Forward. Stop rehashing what happened in the past (and any personal wounds) and focus conversations on where you are going. Include sharing the actions you and your team are taking, and the results you are experiencing. This is how you look for new opportunities inside adversity.
TIP: Work with a trained facilitator to guide you and your team to uncover new systems, products, and services.
Practice Thanks! Everyone loves appreciation. Saying “please”, “thank you”, and “great work” is important. When done authentically, your teams grow and your customers feel valued.
TIP: Get your copy of Get Your Brag On! Learn how to brag yourself and your team. Then, share with confidence the successes you, and your team and customers have had without sounding like a braggart!
It takes brave and committed leaders to use adversity as a launching pad to transform a situation, project, and/or relationship into a positive outcome. Doing it in an effective way creates the opportunities for you to grow stronger.
© Jeannette Seibly, 2021–2026
Jeannette Seibly is a Talent Advisor, Leadership Results Coach, and Business Author with over 33 years of experience guiding people to empower themselves, transforming workplaces into places that work, and shaping leaders who truly lead.
Adversity will always be part of leadership. When you choose to learn from it, you strengthen your leadership, your team, and your ability to seize new opportunities. Contact me for additional insights