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{{first_name}}, Feeling the Weight of Progress? Let’s Talk “Resilient Leadership” for the Long Game

, Feeling the Weight of Progress? Let’s Talk “Resilient Leadership” for the Long Game

Saieed Sadeghzadeh
August 13, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Hi !

Last time, we explored sustaining momentum, that sweet spot between all-out hustle and deliberate pacing so you don’t crash mid-marathon.

I loved hearing your stories of how small “breathers” and mini-celebrations injected new life into your teams. Nicely done.

But even with well-managed pacing, life loves to throw curveballs, economic downturns, sudden market shifts, internal shake-ups, you name it.

Enter resilient leadership: the art of not just surviving disruptions but using them for growth. Because if you can bend without breaking, you’ll do more than endure, you’ll evolve.

What’s In It For You?

Mindset Reset: Why resilience goes beyond being stoic or bulletproof and more about it’s about turning challenges into catalysts.
3 Unorthodox Moves: Tactical approaches to cultivate true resilience, beyond your typical “tough it out” clichés.
Case Study: A famous brand that danced with near-bankruptcy, only to come back stronger than ever.

Why It’s More Than Toughing It Out

We often confuse “resilience” with “endless endurance.”

I’ve made that mistake, thinking if I just pushed harder, didn’t show weakness, I’d prove my grit.

Spoiler: I burned out. Real resilience is about adapting when the storms hit, pivoting quickly, and staying grounded enough to seize new opportunities in the chaos.

People follow leaders who can handle turbulence with calm confidence, who can say, “Yes, this is rough, but we’ll figure it out together.”

And guess what? That trust supercharges morale and creativity, even when everything else is teetering.

It’s how you shape your team’s trajectory from meltdown to breakthrough.

“Bending is not breaking. The leader who knows how to pivot stands tallest when the dust settles.”
— Me, after one too many nights trying to ‘muscle through’ a crisis alone

Hacks for the Bold

“Go Ugly Early”: Encourage your team to share worst-case scenarios right out of the gate. By naming the “ugly” possibilities, you defuse their power. Everyone can start contingency planning proactively instead of reacting in panic mode.
Crisis-Forged Partnerships
Buddy up with a department or external partner you’d never normally collaborate with. Work on a small pilot project together. Learning from each other’s blind spots is like resilience training wheels, helping you see resources you didn’t even know you had.
Daily Micro-Reflect
Reserve five minutes at the day’s end for a quick mental debrief: What went sideways today? What was my role? Could I handle it differently next time? This mini-habit fosters self-awareness, the bedrock of agile pivots when real storms hit.

Case Study: LEGO’s Near-Collapse and Epic Revival

In the early 2000s, LEGO was bleeding money, drowning in product lines that distracted from its core. Bankruptcy loomed. Instead of doubling down on “we’ve always done it this way,” they revamped operations, refocused on core products, and invited adult fans (AFOLs) to help guide innovation.

The turnaround was swift and bold. Today, LEGO is not just back, it’s thriving, with everything from Hollywood tie-ins to educational tech kits.

Key takeaway: When faced with existential threats, pivoting smartly, and letting fresh voices steer the helm, can transform a sinking ship into a fleet of unstoppable creativity.

“Antifragile” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

If you want to look into how systems (and leaders) can actually gain from chaos and stress, “Antifragile” is your new jam.

Taleb explores how certain structures thrive under volatility, and it’s a mind-bending read if you’re ready to see crises as fuel rather than just obstacles.

Check it out on Amazon

Quick Note: Schedule Your Free 30-Minute Clarity Call

Feeling the heat, market shifts, internal changes, personal stress?

Instead of white-knuckling your way through, let’s design a blueprint where you pivot swiftly and emerge stronger.

I’ve walked leaders through fires before, and resilience is always the clincher.

Ready to turn chaos into a platform?

👉 Schedule your complimentary 30-minute clarity call here

Let's Reflect:

Is your leadership style more about “holding firm” or “adapting fast”?
When was the last time you let yourself (or your team) think through “worst-case” first?
Could embracing adversity be the missing puzzle piece in your growth strategy?

Fun Corner

“Worst-Case Scenarios Anonymous”

Host a quick roundtable where each person shares a ridiculous “the sky is falling” scenario.
Everyone else proposes at least one creative solution.
The point? Transform gloom-and-doom thinking into collaborative problem-solving, and perhaps share a few laughs along the way.

Because humour is an underrated ally against meltdown thinking.

Thank you to everyone who responded last week!

A Personal Reflection

I remember leading a project that veered off-track faster than I could blink.

My first instinct? Clench my jaw and power through alone.

Big mistake. Once I owned the struggle and asked for help, my team found solutions I’d never have considered.

That pivot from “battle alone” to “rally together” was my aha moment: resilience isn’t solitary. It’s communal courage in the face of adversity.

The Final Word

Momentum is crucial, yes, but resilient leadership is what ensures you stay upright when turbulence hits.

Being nimble, prepared for the unexpected, and open to new ideas isn’t just wise, it’s a survival skill in today’s rollercoaster world.

Your call to action? Don’t wait until the walls shake to build your resilience.

Lay that foundation now and watch how your team handles storms with surprising confidence and creativity.

Share Your Thoughts

Got a story where resilience carried you (or your organisation) through a crisis?

Or maybe a time you face-planted from sheer stubbornness (my hand’s raised too)?

Let’s hear it. Reply and spill the real talk.

How Else I Can Help

I also offer consulting services based on my senior leadership experience and am available for speaking engagements, including events, keynotes, podcasts, and course recordings.