I’ve been so inspired by the incredible leaders I’ve met over the years — the ones who stay grounded and centered even in the hardest moments. And I assumed they were just born that way.

They didn’t fake it or suppress their fear. Quite the opposite — they were honest about how they felt.

I still think, “I want to have what they’re having,” when I meet deeply grounded people, feeling deeply drawn to their authentic, centered presence.

I’ve learned that that kind of inner focus and self-trust isn’t something you’re either born with or not. They’re learned skills — not personality traits.

No one is spared fear or uncertainty.

The difference is, some leaders have learned how to shift their energy and tap their inner genius even when things feel out of control.

Here are the behaviors of highly resilient leaders in uncertain times:

Leading teams during layoffs or restructuring:
Leads with humanity and equanimity. Holds space for uncertainty without rushing to fix or please. Models emotional steadiness and psychological safety.
Leading businesses during fast growth:
Anchors the team in purpose and shared vision, even amid chaos. Makes decisions from deep wisdom — not ego or urgency.
When business slows down:
Maintains long-range perspective and sees opportunities. Resists scarcity thinking and speaks up authentically. Uses downtime to strengthen systems, nurture relationships, and support the team with empathy.
When job seeking:
Holds faith in timing and alignment. Lets go of chasing approval or contorting into roles that aren’t aligned. Shows up with authenticity and calm assurance in interviews.

I’m such a strong believer that we can learn the skills to lead our teams and businesses through change — especially when we’re tested the most.

When fear and inner resistance are met with awareness and openness, they can be transformed into resilience, innovation, and deep self-trust.

I recently led a workshop on one of my favorite themes — Resilience in Action: Shifting from Fear into Empowerment.

We had powerful conversations about what it really means to thrive, not just survive, in those moments when fear takes hold. Nearly everyone in the room asked some version of the same question:

How do I follow through when I feel afraid or unsure?

When things feel uncertain, our minds can send us into analysis paralysis and self-doubt.

Resilience, on the other hand, is our capacity to bounce back and stay centered in the face of fear. It is the ability to expand our perspective and see possibility where before we saw failure.

And it is grounded in the skill of shifting our energy, reframing how we see a challenge, especially under stress.

The Energy Leadership framework (credit to iPEC, my coaching alma mater) lays out seven different ways of responding to challenges, ranging from fear and control (Levels 1 and 2) to curiosity and flow (Levels 5 through 7).

Let’s make this real. Imagine you are a leader navigating market uncertainty, leading a team that feels stretched thin, and you still need to inspire confidence and direction.
Here is how those different energy levels show up:
**Level 1: Victim**
You feel drained and disconnected, and think: *“I don’t know how to keep everyone motivated when morale is so low. Nothing I do seems to help.”*
**Level 2: Conflict**
You feel tense, defensive, driven by the need to prove or protect. *“If people would just do their jobs, we’d be fine. I have to do everyone’s job.”*
**How to shift to higher levels:**
Pause before reacting. Focus on what is within your control.
For example, host a team check-in to *listen*, not fix.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Level 3: Coping

You suppress your feelings, tolerate, or aim to “be professional.” “I’ll just push through. It’s not ideal, but it’s fine.”

Level 4: Care

You focus on helping others, avoid delegating, skip boundaries, and risk burnout.
“I’ll do it all so no one else has to.” People-pleasers know this energy well.

Level 5: Opportunity

You start seeing challenges as data and feedback. You look for the opportunity in any challenge. “Maybe this slowdown is showing us what’s not working in our process.”

Level 6: Intuitive Flow

You tap a sense of intuitive knowing and trust the process. “I can sense what the team needs. I don’t have to have all the answers.”

Level 7: Non-Attachment

You take the 60,000-foot view and see the long game. You lead from a sense of peace and integrity. “We can’t control the outcome and the market, but we can control how we show up.”

So when you catch yourself thinking, “I have no choice,” ask:

“What energy am I bringing to this moment — and what would it look like to rise one level higher?”

That is the essence of resilience: being honest about how you feel, taking a breath, and choosing how you want to show up.

Your guide to making empowered choices

Feeling stretched thin? The leadership skill no one talks about