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How to be a resilient, adaptable leader

In times of change and pressure, a set of skills known as ‘psychological flexibility’ can help you and your team to thrive

Selda Koydemir

Psyche, 2025

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In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, leaders who rely solely on their technical chops will founder. To thrive, they also must be adroit communicators who can deftly manage people and change. Successful leaders, says psychotherapist Selda Koydemir, boast “psychological flexibility.” She offers practical tips to help you develop this crucial skill. All leaders — from prime ministers to class prefects — can benefit from Koydemir’s sage advice.

Summary

Great leaders boast abundant “psychological flexibility.”

Siya Kolisi, the captain of the South African rugby team, embodies psychological flexibility — the ability to mindfully adapt to change while remaining focused on one’s goals and staying true to one’s values. When a sports journalist criticized Kolisi’s teammate for an error, the captain could have lost his cool or directed the blame elsewhere. Instead, Kolisi acknowledged the blunder and emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes. Such responses, characteristic of Kolisi’s leadership, build focus, trust, and rapport among the Springboks. Psychological flexibility takes time and patience to learn. But if you take an incremental approach, you can foster a “flexible, resilient, and effective leadership style.” Whether you lead a global corporation or a neighborhood initiative, you can benefit from adopting psychological flexibility.

Improve your psychological flexibility by embracing difficult emotions.

As a leader, you might feel tempted to stifle your emotions because you fear appearing weak, unstable, or incompetent. Instead, explore your painful emotions. Learn to live with them “without...

About the Author

Psychotherapist Selda Koydemir is a well-being consultant, researcher, and blogger. She is an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Bamberg in Germany.

How to be a resilient, adaptable leader

In times of change and pressure, a set of skills known as ‘psychological flexibility’ can help you and your team to thrive

Read, Listen, or Discuss

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Great leaders boast abundant “psychological flexibility.”

Improve your psychological flexibility by embracing difficult emotions.

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