In a world filled with constant changes and challenges, resilience has become an essential skill than ever for individuals to succeed in their personal and professional lives. However, building resilience is not always easy, and we often find ourselves struggling to bounce back after facing setbacks and failures. The Leadership Development and campus engagement office introduced a new workshop series that can help you practice resilience techniques and unlock your full potentials as an exceptional leader. The Golden Leaders Program is a gateway to unleashing your Inner Leader and unlocking the Secrets to effective leadership. I recently had an opportunity to attend one of the workshops of the Golden Leaders program _The Resilient Knights workshop. In this article I will share the main skills I learned that can help you cultivate resiliency in your daily life and keep pushing through challenges. Whether you hold a leadership position or not, this article can teach you one skill or two. It is worth noting that we are all leaders in our own right.

As a student leader, it is often challenging to balance responsibilities and maintain a positive outlook. Through Resilient Knights workshop, I learned valuable skills on how to react to adversity, maintain a positive mindset, achieve holistic well-being, and practice positive psychology. The workshop consisted various activities including reflection, journaling and peer discussions which gave a vibrant environment to digest what we learned in a beautiful and unique way.  I had the opportunity to interact with other students who shared my passion for leadership. We exchanged ideas, challenged each other’s perspectives, and provided feedback and support.

A resilient leader is not immune to stress, but rather can adapt and handle stress more effectively. The workshop taught us how to identify our coping mechanisms and use them to build resilience, which is a crucial skill for any leader. We discussed how to respond to unpleasant events in a way that allows us to bounce back stronger.

How does a resilient and positive leader react to adversity? The workshop focused on the power of a positive mindset and how to cultivate a positive attitude towards challenges. We explored the difference between a pessimistic and optimistic mindset and discovered how our thoughts and beliefs influence our emotions and behaviors.  The ability to maintain a positive outlook is essential for effective leadership. Through practical exercises and discussions, we were taught to reframe our negative thoughts and develop a positive attitude towards challenges, setbacks, and failures. Often, individuals find themselves struggling with being fully optimistic, we were reminded that it is okay to have such struggle, but the goal is to always look beyond the negative side and focus on what is good about a situation and what lessons can be learned from it.

The second important aspect of developing resilience is building strong and healthy relationships. The importance of having a support system and fostering positive relationships with others, both personally and professionally is highly emphasized. By having a network of people who can provide support and encouragement, individuals can better handle stress and overcome challenges. We explored the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships with others and developing a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Whenever you are in a challenging situation, it is necessary to tap in your support system and remembering that the community you built is standing with you no matter what.

Moreover, we tackled the topic of a holistic well-being. We learned about the seven dimensions of holistic wellness – occupational, financial, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, and psychological wellness- and how they are all interconnected. We learned that being a good leader requires taking care of ourselves, including finding a healthy balance between work and personal life, developing healthy habits, and practicing self-care. By prioritizing our well-being, we can become more effective leaders and inspire others to do the same. The holistic wellbeing can be achieved by taking time to reflect on your values, set meaningful goals, learn what makes you an authentic being and how different aspects of your life influence your overall well-being.

The positive psychology, including gratitude, savoring, and motivation promotes a healthy approach to adversity. We learned that cultivating positive emotions, such as gratitude and happiness, can have a significant impact on our well-being and ability to lead effectively. We were taught practical ways to cultivate positive emotions, including expressing gratitude, savoring positive experiences, and setting meaningful goals. My main take away from this topic was that if you find yourself in a hardship, pause for a moment and reflect on great moments of your life. Appreciate the little blessings you are gifted with and hold on to those good memories that will inspire you to strive for major accomplishments in life.

My first workshop in the Golden Leaders Program has transformed my leadership potentials already. Through reflection, journaling, and peer discussions, I have learned how to become a leader that inspires and motivates others towards a common goal even in the unpleasant events. I now understand the importance of self-awareness, building relationships, and maintaining an optimistic mindset.  If you want to enhance your leadership abilities and become a more effective leader, do not let this one pass you by. Sign up for the next workshop on EngageU or reach out to LDCE at engagement@gannon.edu for more information.