Charisma. Vision. Passion. Drive. These are the supreme qualities that come to mind when an outstanding leader is mentioned. Leaders have a pull that draws teams and people to them. They have a persona that makes them stand apart. Whether it is Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos their social media archives show them making charismatic impressions.
Their vision to see things before others can see, brand them as leaders who pioneer innovation. Their passion to communicate with the public is what makes them memorable. Thousands of articles have been written about what makes a great leader and many more on each of these traits. These are star making qualities. They make an ordinary person assume heroic proportions. We all love to hear stories of success that showcase passion and vision. Is there something else that separates the good from great?
The answer to this question has intrigued many. Research has been conducted to bring out more factors. One of the X factors is the unglamorous quality of resilience. Some studies talk about grit being the leadership differential. Angela Duckworth did a study on grit being a major factor that makes some people last despite the odds.
In her landmark study in 2007 she said, “Grit is the tendency to pursue a singular, challenging goal over extremely long stretches of time, doing so despite inevitable obstacles, setbacks, and long plateaus during which progress may not be obvious”. Seems simple, is not. Think about how we set our new-year goals and give them up soon. Think about how many companies rise and shine under a leader and then fade out. Then think about why Nelson Mandela is universally considered a great and you start to realize how grit and resilience more than simple brilliance, are the under-rated super power of leaders.
How does vision last if over the years people think it is a pipedream? How does passion last when for years it is costing you your health, money, sanity? That is why the fuel to keep on and on when all around you is off is the resiliance, the grit and the tenacity that these leaders larger than circumstances. If ever you needed to work on this skill, 2026 is the year. Let us look at some of these factors that make leaders resilient:
Super Power#1-Endurance over enthusiasm- You only lose, if you quit. That is the mindset of the resilient leader. He is mentally prepared for the long game. Most leaders come in with energy. They start buzzing around changing the culture, etc. When they find that difficult, they go for short cuts. They want instant results. They focus on quick changes. They show profits by cutting costs. They show authority by getting rid of people. They are more concerned about the quick bet projects. This approach normally creates a sense of victory. These actions look good on P&L statements. Over a period of time as the gloss fades so does their leadership. On the other hand, resilient leaders withstand the urge to change courses to bypass the hard path. They withstand popular opinion pressure. They maintain composure in the storm of circumstances. Steve Jobs is an example of grit and resilience. After co-founding Apple, Jobs was forced out of the company in 1985 following power struggles and the commercial failure of the Apple Lisa and early Macintosh models. He described it as a “very public failure”. Jobs founded NeXT and invested in Pixar. He returned to Apple in 1997, turning a company nearing bankruptcy into the most valuable company in the world. 12 years of being deceived, kicked out and shunned out did not deter him.
SuperPower#2-Conviction over charisma- Charismatic leaders are in demand. They have a great pull factor in followers. Their personality charms the stakeholders and woos the critics. Will the charm last in times of disruption? That is the question. A question that exposes the thin layers of many charismatic leaders. In times of high uncertainty as presently, the conviction of the leader holds the fort. Mohammad Ali in boxing is an example of a man who was considered too brash to last. He proved the world wrong. He won the world medal and many other medals early in his career. He refused to go with the US army in the war with Vietnam. He was stripped off his title. In his peak years he could not fight. He stuck to his convictions and won the title back in one of the most improbable stories of resilience.
SuperPower#3-Setback, sit back, set forward- Resilient leaders have more than the normal share of setbacks. They then make use of their qualities of tenacity and grit. They practice persistence and perseverance even if takes decades. They have this unwavering commitment to their cause. During this period it may seem as if it is all over. They may be sidelined. They may be outcast. They use this time off for reflection and introspection. The US has had many Presidents but few leaders. Of those few perhaps the most respected one is Abraham Lincoln. His story of resilience is almost unmatched. He suffered from personal tragedy, losing his love, his children and suffering from severe clinical depression. He went through relentless professional failures, including multiple business losses and 6 major election defeats. He went on to take America out of a civil war on the road to recovery and progress. It took time. It took resolve and it took grit to hang on even when his own mind was failing him.
Resilience is more powerful than brilliance. Resilience is more powerful than charisma. Resilience is more impactful than a PhD. Resilience is more enduring than persona. To build resilience the practice of knowing what you do not know is prime. To develop resilience the ability to be consistent and persistent is more important than talent. The sagacity and wisdom of getting things done rather than being a go getter is the foundation of resilience. Resilience is when people all around you write you off and you start writing your own destiny. As they say “resilience is the secret ingredient that turns setbacks into comebacks.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a columnist, consultant, coach, and an analyst and can be reached at [email protected]
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