Resilient Leadership: Thriving in the Face of Adversity

Harnessing Essential Habits to Overcome Challenges and Inspire Success

Resilience and leadership play vital roles in organizational success, with true leadership focusing on empowering others to be their best selves while pursuing a noble goal. In this episode, our guest Mike Watson delves into the habits and values that foster resilience in teams, emphasizing the importance of cultivating a culture of accountability and individual resilience.

Drawing on examples from the sports world, Mike highlights the significance of fostering a sense of belonging, accountability, and support. He also investigates the impact of childhood experiences on shaping one’s resilience and character, offering insights into personal growth and understanding.

In this episode, gain valuable knowledge from Mike Watson on the connections between resilience and leadership, and learn how to nurture these qualities through intentional habits and values. By understanding the critical role of accountability and building an inclusive, supportive culture, you and your team can unlock your full potential and thrive in the face of adversity.

Mike Watson grew up in a small smelter town in British Columbia Canada where the two biggest employers were the smelter and the local hospital. It was a fascinating environment where his dad was the head of the smelter and his best friends dad was the head of the union representing the workers. He was heavily influenced by the blue-collar spirit of the town and its deep sports history. He is tremendously grateful for the love of his wife of 34 years and their two grown children and one grand-dog.

Mike began his career as a commercial banker with TD Bank in Canada and spent time in commercial banking, private banking, branch management and corporate banking. He refers to his time in banking as the gift of education. He left D Bank to be the VP of a large credit union and was tasked with a complete overhaul of culture and operations. It was not for the faint of heart!

Mike’s greatest accomplishment there was to capture the hearts and minds of a team who ultimately led a complete transformation of the organization which, to this day, continues to thrive under the vision that was established in his time there.

Fifteen years ago, Mike’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit came calling and he started his own consultancy to facilitate strategy and leadership development.

He has become a trusted advisor of C-Suite Executives and companies across North America, both private and publicly listed.

Mike is on a mission to change the way business is done by empowering and coaching leaders to adopt the habits of resilient leadership. His deep understanding of purpose, leadership, and strategy has guided high-performing teams through strategic execution with urgency and precision that has resulted in enterprise successes.

Mike is also a critically acclaimed author who’s recently published book, Rise Up, captures parts of his experiences working with highly successful Executive teams in leading them through turbulent times. His professional and personal experiences have enabled his ability to help leaders embrace the habits of resilient leadership and develop tangible actions to overcome great adversity. Mike’s personal goal is to make the world a better place, one interaction at a time. He currently calls North Vancouver home, and is a proud father of two.

Tweetable Quotes and Mentions

Listen to @mikewatson10 get over the hump on the @FastLeaderShow – Click to Tweet

“Resilience is not something you’re born with; it’s actually something that needs to be learned.” – Click to Tweet

“The definition of leadership is someone who helps enable people to be their best selves in pursuit of something noble.” – Click to Tweet

“The habits that we establish require hard work and commitment, but they’re essential to our success.” – Click to Tweet

“Accountability is about modeling it yourself.” – Click to Tweet

“Creating a culture of belonging is one of the most important things a leader can do.” – Click to Tweet

“There are three things that every coach gave to an Olympic podium athlete: belief in them, support (often tough love), and love.” – Click to Tweet

“Courage is about conviction, it’s not about recklessness.” – Click to Tweet

“The goal in asking questions is to learn something new, not to make the other person feel uncomfortable or inadequate.” – Click to Tweet

“Childhood experiences are critical to shaping the person we become.” – Click to Tweet

“The retrospective is essential for identifying one’s true self before making changes to become a better person.” – Click to Tweet

Advice for others

Build trust.

Holding him back from being an even better leader

Fear.

Best Leadership Advice

Tell people what you want to accomplish, why you want to accomplish it, and ask them for their help.

Links and Resources

Ignite Management website: https://ignitemanagement.ca/

Mike’s email: mwatson@ignitemanagement.ca

Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-watson-91a40716

Mike’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikewatson10

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