RULE 8: THE LEADERSHIP LADDER
From the Top Step: Managing our Conscious Awareness for Resilience
In a world increasingly characterised by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA), the ability to manage our conscious awareness is not merely a soft skill, but a core implement in our leadership and teambuilding armoury. The difference between a leader who weathers adversity from one who is overwhelmed, lies in their capacity for emotional regulation and purposeful direction of focus.
Our mindset operates largely on “autopilot” (in the subconscious), where at least 95% of our thoughts and behaviour stemming from here can facilitate our comfort zone. Those daily rituals when we arrive at work are the same as the day before and the day before that. These are the anchors we put down to create our safe space, a sense of belonging and security.
Conversely, when the invasive menace of the VUCA world arises, our safe space feels threatened. Predetermined subconscious perspectives, alongside survival based self-chatter, can automatically spiral into anxiety and stress. It’s here where being more resilient, with effective emotional regulation, is a core discipline in leading with a strong mind.
Achieving resilience becomes a two-part process: acknowledging that there can be moments of stress, and deliberately choosing to do something about it. Stress is the disconnect between what we expect and what actually happens. When these disconnects pile up, it can generate excessive ‘beta brainwaves,’ leading to agitation, anger, and in the extreme - a "fight, flight or freeze" response. To combat this, we need to shift from this subconscious state to one of controlled awareness and rational thinking.
A foundational component of emotional regulation is the process of training introspective self-watching to counter aspects that prevent us from retaining control. It’s about purposefully shaping our internal narrative so it works to our advantage. For leaders, this means taking the reins and moving beyond the reactive subconscious and into the alert conscious state where strategy, problem-solving, and deliberate decision-making takes place.
Resilience researcher Dr. Lucy Hone suggests resilient people are exceptionally good at choosing carefully where they direct their attention. They realistically appraise situations, focusing on what they can change and accepting what they cannot. They ask a simple, powerful question: “Is what I’m doing helping or harming me?” This immediately puts them back in the driving seat, regaining control over the decision-making process.
Techniques for reframing our internal narrative can be for instance; the simple act of reimagining a high heart rate and rising tension from "nervous" to "excited." This is a powerful reframing tool used by athletes. The most effective methods for emotional regulation and reframing combine multiple senses to create a personal, powerful mental reset. Focusing on four elements:
Breathing + An Action + A Visual Prompt + A Verbal Affirmation
By orchestrating these rituals, individuals can deliberately reset their level of consciousness - moving from an overly agitated state (high frequency beta brainwaves) to one of total focused concentration (controlled medium beta brainwaves.)
Then by exercising control over what we pay attention to, we can transition from a reactive state to one of deliberate, strategic focus. If we become a master of our conscious awareness we will truly become a resilient leader, capable of steering ourselves and our teams through the unpredictable and complex environment of the modern world.
