The Resilience Panel: Navigating Leadership Challenges – A Spotlight on The Courage to Lead Interview Series
Introduction
In an ever-changing world, leadership demands more than just the ability to make decisions; it requires resilience. The Courage to Lead Interview Series, hosted by Allan Sicard, has been a beacon of wisdom for leaders seeking to the skills where people are empowered to create supportive and inclusive workplaces where people can thrive. A lot of these leaders have shared some very challenging times in their lives and careers. In this blog post, we shine a spotlight on The Resilience Panel, which is a forthcoming episode featuring four remarkable leaders: Peter Scott, Carlene York, and Michael Willing. Together, they shared their insights on the essence of resilience in leadership.
Understanding Resilience in Leadership
Resilience in leadership is the capacity to adapt, endure, and thrive in the face of adversity. It’s about bouncing back stronger when faced with challenges, setbacks, or unexpected turns. The Resilience Panel will delve into how this trait is vital for leaders navigating today’s complex and fast-paced world.
Peter Scott, joining the Royal Australian Navy as a seventeen-year-old Midshipman in 1983, and volunteering for submarines in 1988, Peter Scott rose over three decades to be the professional head of the Navy’s elite: The Submarine Arm. Peter survived and led others through at-sea fires, floods and explosions, passed the most demanding military command course in the world, and commanded the longest deployment ever conducted by an Australian submarine. In all, he served in twenty different command and leadership appointments over 34 years. A veteran of multiple Special Operations with the Submarine Arm, he also saw war service in Iraq, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007.
Carlene York, On 30th October 2019, Carlene was appointed NSW State Emergency Services (SES) Commissioner. Carlene leads the combat agency with legislated responsibility for storms, floods and tsunamis. Literally 3 months later in March 2020, the world, New South Wales and the rest of Australia went into Lockdowns because of Covid 19. That meant that none of the 10,500 volunteers in the SES all over New South Wales could not meet or train together, it all had to be done over Zoom or similar. Then New South Wales had and continued to have the biggest flood events ever state-wide for more than 12 months. How do you prepare for that and deal with that, all the while leading a volunteer organisation of 10,500 talented and diversified people?
Michael Willing, How does a boy from Dubbo join the NSW Police Force in 1990 and rise to the rank of Superintendent as the Commander of the Homicide Squad for 6 years, then the Assistant Commissioner of Counter Terrorism? Mick was then promoted to Deputy Commissioner and interviewed for the role of Commissioner of Police. He was nominated as the preferred candidate for the role of Commissioner of Police by one Premier, but a change in Premier, saw him loose the nomination, and shortly after have his Deputy Commissioner contract terminated, by the new Police Commissioner, whilst he was on holidays. And just like that Mick Willing was no longer a NSWPF officer after 30+ years of diligent and exceptional service.
Amy Brown, a highly regarded leader with a diverse career spanning various fields, including homelessness. I’ve known Amy for a while and have always admired her leadership abilities. Amy’s reflections on leadership, including acknowledging mistakes and learning from them are relevant for all of us Two wonderful leadership quotes from Amy: “When we do push ourselves out of the comfort zone and into the courage zone, that’s actually where the magic happens,” and “Courage is the ability to keep moving forward even in times of setbacks and even when you feel alone.”
Navigating Leadership Challenges
The Resilience Panel will cover some specific challenges that leaders face in today’s rapidly changing world. The key challenges we will cover:
Adapting to Change
Managing Stress
Building Trust
Learning from Failure
Conclusion
The Resilience Panel on The Courage to Lead Interview Series with Amy Brown, Peter Scott, Carlene York, and Michael Willing will provide invaluable insights into the world of leadership and resilience. We can learn from these experienced professionals that being adaptable, emotionally intelligent, and prioritising self-care are essential aspects of building resilience. By incorporating these qualities into our leadership journey, we can lead with courage and navigate the challenges of the modern world.