Choices Stick Longer Than Gum: You can’t outrun bad breath OR bad choices—but you can turn them around. Learn, grow, and make today’s choices ones to be proud of!
Why Resilient Leaders Earn Trust and Respect
Some leaders crumble under setbacks. Others turn failures into fuel for growth. The difference? Resilience.
Resilient leaders don’t let mistakes define them—they let them refine their approach. They know that growth happens in the messy middle of challenges, not just in smooth victories. And guess what? Teams trust leaders who own their mistakes, adapt, and keep moving forward without losing momentum.
Think of it like this: Leadership resilience is like Crash Course Carla’s driving habits. She insists she knows the route, ignores all road signs, and—shockingly—ends up in a ditch. But instead of panicking, she learns which turns to avoid next time. Strong leaders do the same: they own their missteps and refine their approach.
Instead of: “I can’t believe this happened—we’re doomed!” ✅ Try: “What can we learn from this? How can we adapt?”
How to Lead Effectively Through Setbacks Without Losing Momentum
The best leaders don’t panic—they pivot. Here’s how resilient leaders bounce back stronger:
✅ Acknowledge the challenge—Ignoring problems doesn’t solve them. ✅ Reframe the setback—Instead of a failure, see it as a lesson. ✅ Adjust and take action—Small shifts lead to big breakthroughs.
Think of it like this: Leadership resilience is like Detour Doug’s navigation style. He refuses to let a closed road stop his journey—instead, he reroutes efficiently. Successful leaders do the same: they see obstacles not as dead ends, but as new opportunities for strategy and growth.
Instead of: “I failed. This is embarrassing.” ✅ Try: “I learned. This is valuable.”
Tactical Approaches to Turning Failures Into Growth Opportunities
Great leaders don’t waste mistakes—they turn them into stepping stones.
Spot the lesson—Every failure has a hidden insight. Find it. Share the learning—Your team needs to see vulnerability in action. ♂️ Keep moving—Resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.
Think of it like this: Leadership growth is like Echo Edie’s karaoke session. She keeps singing the wrong lyrics until someone points out, “It’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin,’ not ‘Don’t Drop the Beans.’” Once she listens, she improves. Leaders must do the same: take feedback, adjust, and refine their approach.
Instead of: “We failed, and I’m frustrated.” ✅ Try: “We learned, and we’re improving.”
✍️ Note to Self: Mistakes aren’t a stop sign—they’re a roadmap to better leadership.
The FUNomenal™ Finale
Mistakes don’t make or break leaders—how they respond to them does.
The most FUNomenal™ leaders own their setbacks, learn loudly, and inspire growth through resilience.
Now, it’s over to you!
-> Read More: Glow Getters, Not Show-Offs: Leadership That Lights the Way
AI Sidekick Alert: This post was unpacked and given a touch of FUNomenal™ sparkle with the creative assistance of my behind-the-scenes AI brainstorming buddy!
About Tony
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Tony Brigmon | Speaker—Emcee | TonyBrigmon.com
Tony Brigmon is a party animal. He’s been known to stay up well past nine o’clock drinking root beer and telling G-rated jokes. Sure, the neighbors complain, but that doesn’t stop him. Because Tony is serious about having fun. Serious fun, with serious results.
As a result of his questionable spelling skills, Tony learned at an early age that his name spelled backward is “YNOT.” As in, “YNOT take a closer look at his book?” Or “YNOT smile when you should be crying?”
Tony was a Southwest Airlines “Insider” and the former “face” of their renowned culture as their official “Ambassador of Fun”. At Southwest Airlines, “fun” was the power of “positivity” that helped catapult a small carrier into a force that changed the airline industry.
Today, Tony is a popular speaker, emcee, and author of The FUNomenal™ Workplace. (FUNomenal™ is pronounced the same as phenomenal but it’s a lot more FUN.)
Former CEO of Southwest Airlines Howard Putnam says: “Tony has a gift for blending fun and capturing ideas in a manner that sticks for audiences.” Tony’s friends say that no one should have so much fun while sober. Tony’s wife said she has had about all the cheerfulness she can stand.
“Fun” transformed this author’s work and life. YNOT discover if the serious power of fun can transform the next 30 seconds of your day or 30 years of your life?
YNOT arrange to have Tony Brigmon teach you and your team how the power of fun can help you get more done, bring out the best in everyone, and make you irresistibly attractive in your communication with others. You can do this. So, YNOT?
