Lead With IntentSample

7. Principle - Practice - Impact on Culture

Resilience - Legitimate Suffering - Perseverance

We have a resilience pandemic in the world if we view the statistics on mental health. The way we do life and the way we parent our children has caused what is today known as the Anxious generation, or as some know it: Generation Z. This generation is now entering the workplace, and how do we as leaders help them develop perseverance? How do we help them live with resilience? Paul gives us a clue in Romans 5: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

We must allow these young people to experience legitimate suffering. It is only by facing up to hard times, going through suffering, and experiencing the consequences of your actions and decisions, that we develop resilience. Unfortunately, I have seen too many leaders bailing their people out, working for their people. This is a terrible tactic that produces co-dependent employees, destroying self-confidence. Instead, the best leaders empower people to make their own decisions and hold them accountable. This does not mean neglecting your people, but supporting them with encouragement and the belief that they can learn and grow from their experiences, good or bad. The result will be a culture where we persevere over the long term and build sustainable businesses with people who believe in their abilities, regardless of the circumstances.