Women leaders don't need to bounce back! They need creative resilience so they can can remain flexible when faced by life disruption or extended periods of pressure, and can emerge from difficulty stronger, wiser, and more able.

1. WOMEN LEADERS:
GROWING CREATIVE RESILIENCE
WITH MARY STACEY

2. Pressure
Always On
Information Overload
Distraction
“Numerous studies have found that modern office life is
transforming competent professionals into frenzied
underachievers.”
(Hallowell, Harvard Business Review)
THE PAID ENVIRONMENT
Hougaard, 2016

3. RESILIENCE
The capacity to remain flexible in our thoughts, feelings,
and behavior when faced by life disruption or extended
periods of pressure, so that we emerge from difficulty
stronger, wiser, and more able.
(Pemberton, 2015)

4. 4
Resilient
people:
“RESILIENCE IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE A FIXED AMOUNT OF
BUT SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD.”
Less likely to become
physically or mentally
ill during stressful times
(Siebert, 2005)
More hopeful,
optimistic and positive
(Fredrickson, 2001)
Learn and adapt
more quickly
(Gorelick, 2004)
Turn adversity/
failure in to a
growth experience
(Maddi and Khoshaba,
2005)
Flourish in times
of change
(Warner, 2007)

5. INSIDE OUR BIOGRAPHIES:
RESILIENT WOMEN EVERYWHERE

6. STORIES OF RESILIENCE: MALALA YOUSAFZAI
Family with a love of education
A blogger at 11, writing about her life
under Taliban occupation
“I felt fear when I went to school, thinking
someone would stop and harm me. I hid
my books underneath my scarf.”

7. LEARNING TO BE RESILIENT
After recovering from an attempt on her
life: “I have learned that even a child’s
voice can be heard across the world.”
As she received honorary Canadian
citizenship in 2017, she urged young
women to “Step forward, raise your
voices.”
Her resilience story? Learn what you
care about and let it be your guide

8. STORIES OF RESILIENCE: SHERYL SANDBERG
Harvard MBA of highest distinction
48 year old COO at Facebook
Founder of “Lean In” organization
Resilience story goes back generations to her
grandmother Rosalind
2015 sudden loss

9. LEARNING TO BE RESILIENT
After the death of her husband and
becoming a single parent: “I just crumbled
in every area, and for a period of time lost
confidence. When tragedy occurs it presents
you a choice. You can give into the emptiness
that fills your heart or you can try to find
meaning.”
Her resilience story? Able to find gratitude,
she now aims to change the story around
adversity by deploying her ultimate asset:
vulnerability

10. STORIES OF RESILIENCE: EMMA MORANO
At 117, the world’s oldest person
Lived through two world wars and ninety
Italian governments, an abusive
marriage and the loss of her only son
Emma worked until she was 75 and died
this year

11. LEARNING TO BE RESILIENT
She credits her longevity to genes, eating 3
eggs a day and the decision to ‘kick out her
husband’ in 1938
“I didn’t want to be dominated by anyone.”
Her resilience story? Be willing to make hard
choices to support the life you want to live

12. WHAT’S YOUR RESILIENCE STORY?

13. “IN A GROWTH MINDSET, PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEIR MOST BASIC ABILITIES CAN BE DEVELOPED
THROUGH DEDICATION AND HARD WORK—BRAINS AND TALENT ARE JUST THE STARTING POINT. THIS
VIEW CREATES A LOVE OF LEARNING AND A RESILIENCE THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR GREAT
ACCOMPLISHMENT,” WRITES CAROL DWECK, STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Resilience and a Growth Mindset
A way of seeing yourself in the world
Drawn from neuroscience: our brains
have neuroplasticity—they form
pathways based on how we choose to
use them to make sense of events,
failures, and successes
Tell your story in way that grows your
resilience

14. 14
NEUROSCIENCE AND RESILIENCE
Wickremasinghe, 2017
Neo-Cortex
Limbic System
Reptilian Brain

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CREATIVE RESILIENCE
PHYSICAL - pay attention to the body
Hydrate, eat well, exercise, sleep
EMOTIONAL – regulate threat and drive, cultivate safe
Reduce negative self talk, practice appreciation, develop a
relaxation response (mindful breathing)
MENTAL – mindful attention for focus and concentration
Mindful meditation, mastery of a hobby or task, reading a
book
SPIRITUAL – personal meaning and value
Develop reflective practices, engage in meaningful dialogue
with others, discover and connect with your deepest values

16. PHYSICAL – SELF CARE
http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-impact-brain-body-sleep-2015-2?r=UK&IR=T

17. 17
EMOTIONAL – RESPONDING TO THREAT
Neo-Cortex
Limbic System
Reptilian Brain
New Brain
Old Brain

18. 18
RUMINATING & VICIOUS LOOPING

19. 19
HEATHY AND TOXIC DRIVE

20. 20
HEALTHY AND TOXIC DRIVE
Resilience Burnout
HEALTHY
Adventure
Challenge
Energy
Enthusiasm
Value aligned
TOXIC
Addictive
Compulsive
Exhausting
Stressful
Burnout
resiliency
practices
DRIVE
SAFETHREAT
Wickremasinghe 2016

21. 21
MENTAL – MINDFULNESS
• Starting point for growing safe brain capabilities
• First notice what is going on inside yourself
• Notice the way things are without judging/analysing
• Focus on what truly matters in the moment
• Respond from a place of deep calm

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WHAT ARE THE PRACTICES? • Free fall writing
Developing greater self awareness.
• Meditation
Relaxation and attention.
• Appreciation
Self/other compassion.
• Being present
Noticing with greater awareness.
• Embodied knowing
Paying attention to and looking after physical intelligence
& needs.
• Learning to come back to centre
Calming oneself.
• Holding truth lightly
Accepting change and impermanence.

23. SPIRITUAL: TEND AND BEFRIEND

24. SPIRITUAL: TIME IN NATURE

25. WHAT’S YOUR RESILIENCE STORY
Wickremasinghe, 2016