Resilience is built in advance – it starts before the storm

Resilience isn’t just reactive

In sport, we train for the moments we can’t predict.

We prepare in controlled conditions so that we can perform in chaotic ones.

Before a World Championship, I didn’t just train to be physically fit — I trained to stay calm in disrupted routines, to make decisions under pressure, to stay focused when everything around me changed.

That training built my resilience before I ever needed it.

It meant that when things went wrong — a delayed race, a last-minute lane change, an unexpected equipment issue — I didn’t panic. I had the tools to adapt, the mindset to stay steady, and the confidence to trust my preparation.

Business is no different

In leadership and business, we often assume resilience is about responding well in the moment. And yes, response matters. But it’s easier to respond well when you’ve already laid the groundwork.

The teams that bounce back fastest from disruption are the ones who:

• Have clarity on roles and decision-making
• Practice open communication, even in low-stakes times
• Train for adaptability — not just efficiency
• Reflect regularly, so they can adjust course quickly

These are forms of proactive resilience. They don’t just help you survive the storm — they help you show up at your best within it.

And don’t forget: resilience is relational

Preparation isn’t just about systems or skills — it’s also about people.

One of the most overlooked aspects of resilience is the support network you build in advance.

When the pressure hits, you don’t want to be building trust from scratch. You want to be surrounded by people who already know you, believe in you, and are ready to step in, because you’ve invested in those relationships long before crisis showed up.

Whether you’re part of a team, leading one, or going it alone, the people around you matter. So ask yourself:

• Who am I building meaningful, two-way relationships with right now?
• Am I showing up for others in ways that build trust, not just transactions?
• When things go sideways, who will I call and who knows they can call me?

For leaders, trust is your hidden resilience

If you’re leading a team, remember this: your people decide to trust you long before a crisis arrives.

Resilience in leadership doesn’t come from giving great speeches during hard times — it comes from how consistently you lead when things are calm.

If your team feels heard, valued, and supported on the ordinary days, they’ll follow you when things get messy, not because they have to, but because they want to.

What you practice, you strengthen

Your mindset determines your success (if we’ve been connected long enough, you’ll have heard me say that a lot…because it’s true!)

And your mindset is shaped by what you repeatedly practice — not just when things are going wrong, but every day.

I often remind the people I coach:

Resilience is not something you summon on demand. It’s something you build over time.

The more you prepare — through repeated habits, reflection, mental rehearsal — the more resilient you become when it counts.

A simple prompt to help you reflect

Ask yourself or your team:

• What resilience skills are we practising when things are going well?
• Where are we building in room to reflect, recalibrate, and prepare?
• Are we hoping to be resilient — or deliberately training for it?

Because the most powerful form of resilience is the one you build long before you need it.

If you need support to promote more resilient leadership within your workplace, then please contact us to discuss further.