1st Edition
Holistic Leadership Resilience Whole Life Lessons From The Third Sector
Drawing on decades of experience in the charity sector and enriched by real-life examples, this book helps readers to consider how to be a more resilient leader and explores why a whole life approach could be a gamechanger in today’s world.
The world we live and work in has changed exponentially over the last few years, and all sectors share an increased emphasis on sustainability, self-care and resilience. But these last two concepts appear contradictory: how can we keep bouncing back from setbacks when we need a break? Based on her doctoral study carried out over three years - and almost 20 years heading up the third sector leadership body in Scotland, Patricia Armstrong OBE shows that resilience is much more holistic than previously thought. It’s not just about what we do that keeps us resilient, it’s also how we think and how we take into account the environment around us. Readers will find new thinking, tools to help assess where focus is needed, and ways to consider proactive resilience through a new lens, so that when the next setback hits, the drop is not so deep and recovery not so steep. This book comes from the perspective of charity leadership and working in the small country of Scotland – but it offers big lessons which are relevant globally.
Current and aspiring leaders working in all sectors will enjoy and appreciate this book’s focus on proactive resilience—putting us all in a better position to look after our wellbeing and get through to fight another day (and maybe even enjoy the challenge)!
Part 1 – The Research. Chapter 1: Introduction – We make plans, and the gods laugh. Chapter 2: The Research - Can’t see the wood from the trees. Chapter 3: Key Findings - The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know. Chapter 4: Resilience Behaviours – juggling while riding a unicycle. Chapter 5: Mindsets and Factors - It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it. Part 2 – The Way Forward. Chapter 6: The Changing World of Work - Change has never been so fast but will never be so slow again. Chapter 7: Implications for Practice: No such thing as bad weather – only inappropriate clothing. Chapter 8: New Ways of Leading: Every journey starts with a single step. Chapter 9: The Way Forward: Each destination is but a doorway to another journey
Biography
Dr Patricia Armstrong OBE has expertise in leadership, governance and resilience. She led the leadership body for third sector CEOs in Scotland and recently completed her doctorate exploring leadership resilience. Pat also served on the board of the charity regulator. She has a focus on leadership learning across geographies, across sectors and across disciplines. Her study into a whole life approach to leadership resilience bring new insights for todays leaders.
