Siouxland Magazine - Volume 1 Issue 4

Siouxland Magazine | grow / 39
From l to r: Heather Mansfield (Wells Enterprises, Inc.), Andrea Kovarna (FiberComm), Tammy Koopmans (Great West Casualty), Jean
Guy Richard (D2), Peggy Smith (Executive Director, Leadership Siouxland)
Bouncing Back
By Peggy Smith
If you met ten new people today and spent ten
minutes with each of them, you would hear about
their lives, their joys and, yes, the challenges they
have faced. Each person’s story would be unique and
the level of adversity faced would be of differing degrees
– but you would learn how each of them were resilient and
handled their challenges.
Life happens, and stress and frustrations are not going
to disappear anytime soon from the workplace, or our
everyday lives. We never know what may be right around
the corner for us, so it makes sense to learn how to handle
whatever may come up.
Resiliency is one of the domains of Positive Leadership, a
model that explores the characteristics of strong, effective
community leaders. When I think of resiliency, I think of
a kid’s small “super ball” - you know, the kind of rubber
ball that bounces back again and again and again – with
each bounce getting stronger and the ball going higher.
Learning to bounce back and thrive when faced with tough
situations is critical to becoming a respected leader. After
all, in today’s world, change is the one constant.
In today’s world, ways of working and living
evolve daily, and not changing and adapting
is not an option. Strong leaders can adjust
to changing environments without acting in
dysfunctional or harmful ways.
Change can be a powerful and positive force, however even
the most positive change is disruptive – even if in a good
way! True leaders can cope well with high levels of ongoing
disruptive change and sustain good health and energy even
when under constant pressure.
It isn’t easy practicing resiliency. Things like our own feelings,
other people and their reactions, too many commitments,
lack of purpose or vision and lack of organization can all
be factors that prevent us from bouncing back. But if we
can learn the art of resiliency, we are set up for success in an
ever-changing world. Participants in Leadership Siouxland,
a community leadership program, experience firsthand
opportunities to practice resiliency. The curriculum of
positive leadership is a tool used that provides education
and skill building.
Even more importantly, the stories participants learn from
the people they meet and the situations they experience
showcase all the ways leaders can adapt and make a
difference. Because, as leaders, others look to us to see how
WE handle adversity. Because we, as leaders, set the tone.
Because we all want to make a difference – an impact – and
sometimes it is only through resiliency that we find our way
to do so……Because often it is the difficult situations that
provide us the most opportunity to grow and shine. And
bounce! So, bring it on – we can handle it!
Leadership Siouxland is now accepting applications
for the 2019 – 2020 class. Apply by August 15 at
www.leadershipsiouxland.org.
Peggy Smith is the current Executive Director for Leadership
Siouxland, a role she assumed in 2017. Photo courtesy of
Leadership Siouxland.