In the fast-paced corridors of organizations, executive leaders are often celebrated for their sharp acumen and unwavering resolve. Yet, beneath the surface of strategic decision-making, operational execution and leadership, lies an essential trio of skills that sustain long-term success: resilience, self-awareness, and self-care. Padmi Dissanayake, a seasoned leadership coach, emphasizes the importance of these elements, sharing insights gleaned not only from her extensive coaching experience but also from juggling her executive responsibilities with her coaching practice.

Resilience: The Art of Graceful Endurance

Resilience is more than just surviving the toughest days; it’s about thriving through them. For leaders, this means not just bouncing back but bouncing forward. Challenges and setbacks are seen not just as obstacles but as opportunities to grow and learn.

Strategies to Build Resilience:

• Embrace a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities to learn rather than impassable roadblocks.
• Cultivate Emotional Agility: Learn to navigate your feelings and those of others to maintain balance and make informed decisions.
• Build Your Support Network: According to Padmi, having a “village of people” — mentors, peers, coaches, and even therapists — is crucial. “There’s nothing wrong in saying I need help,” she remarks, underscoring the importance of vulnerability and support.

Self-Awareness: The Keystone of Authentic Leadership

Self-awareness is the quiet cornerstone of effective leadership. It involves understanding one’s motives, biases, and the impact of your behavior on others. This introspective skill allows leaders to align their actions with their values, enhancing authenticity.

Ways to Enhance Self-Awareness:

• Regular Reflection: Padmi encourages leaders to set aside time to reflect on their decisions and actions, considering how they align with their values.
• Seek Feedback: Engaging in 360-degree feedback sessions illuminates leadership blind spots, a practice Padmi supports through her “SHIFT” coaching model and programs specifically designed to transform organizations and their people.

Self-Care: The Leader’s Lifeline

Often overlooked amidst strategic priorities, self-care is crucial for sustaining high performance without burnout. For leaders, self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s an operational imperative.

Self-Care Practices for Leaders:

• Physical Activity: Incorporate regular physical activity into daily routine to clear the mind and enhance physical health.
• Adequate Rest and Focused Breathing: Prioritize sleep and downtime, as an essential phase of productivity, whilst meditating on your breathing patterns.
• Nutritional Balance: Fuel your body with a balanced diet that energizes you throughout the day.

Strategic Rest for Sustained Success

On the practicalities of taking time off, Padmi advocates for building a robust succession pipeline, enabling leaders to delegate responsibilities effectively during their absences. For those with family commitments, she suggests creative solutions like taking regular days off during school holidays or adjusting work hours for greater flexibility. The benefits of such practices extend beyond personal well-being. Rested executives are more decisive and effective. Teams grow stronger as they step up in leadership roles, and overall employee engagement surges when people are given opportunities to develop.

Integrating Into Daily Life

Integrating resilience, self-awareness, and self-care into daily life doesn’t require monumental changes. Small, consistent practices can lead to substantial improvements over time. For instance, Padmi suggests walking during your lunch break for physical and mental clarity or scheduling weekly check-ins with a mentor or life coach to foster resilience and gain feedback.

The Ripple Effect

When leaders model resilience, self-awareness, and self-care, the impact goes beyond the individual. It sets a cultural benchmark for the entire organization, promoting a healthier, more transparent, and engaged workplace. Leaders who practice these skills not only enhance their own well-being but also inspire their teams to mirror these practices.

By cultivating these essential skills, executive leaders can navigate the complexities of their roles with more grace and less strain, fostering not only a thriving career but also a fulfilling life. Remember, there’s no limit on the number of decisions you can make in life, and often the ideal decisions are the hardest. The strength of a leader is therefore not just in the aura they wield but in the self-awareness, resilience, and care they model. 

As Padmi Dissanayake states, “sometimes doing less is what helps organizations achieve more.” To learn more about her approach, check out her LinkedIn profile or visit her website.

Published by Mark V.