The following are the top three key attributes of cognitive strength (aka resilience , aka mental toughness) we confront in our daily lives where the ability to have self discipline and resilience is critical to success:
1. Priority Management. — All of us are pressured to do more with less time, to the extent that “being busy” is no longer seen as a pat excuse but an unfortunate reality. The discipline to manage priorities with limited time is invaluable; it requires scheduling the priorities, rather than prioritizing the schedule. Self-disciplined leaders understand the difference between urgent and important tasks, and they have a well-organized system for dealing with each category of tasks along with other nonessential issues that inevitably come up.
2. Personal and Professional Decisions and Choices. — Self-disciplined leaders are known to have orderly, stable lives. Their choices are predictable, and their decisions are prudent. They do not get caught in momentary lapses of judgment, nor do they place themselves in situations that will hurt their reputation or cause others to doubt their values. Their words and actions are always aligned, and their public and private personas are consistent with each other.
3. Conduct. — Observable behavior is a major determinant of self-discipline. For example, in a crisis, a self-disciplined leader responds and reacts calmly; stays focused on the task at hand; offers and seeks solutions proactively; reserves blame and criticism until all facts are in, and keeps them private in the process; and displays genuine concern and care. A self-disciplined leader shows appropriate but not over the top emotions. In addition, this leader is a visible presence throughout the workplace and is regularly available to all staff, which engenders a mindset that the leader is accessible.
Usually associated with athletics, cognitive strength (mental toughness) is a critical contributor to performance excellence. Cognitive strength (aka mental toughness, aka resilience) builds and strengthens your resolve, drowns out doubt and fear, and prepares you for the unanticipated.
Having cognitive strength alone does not guarantee that a leader will become an excellent performer, but it is an essential starting point. The skill of Positive Presence is inherent in each one of us, but for many, it is under-developed. Developing and enhancing your skill of Positive Presence will provide you with the thought processes needed for cognitive strength.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.