Resilience to Lead

Medha Parashar , Vice Principal
CMS Gomti Nagar Extension Campus

We live in a world where chaos often seems like the default setting. Markets shift overnight, children wake up sick before a critical presentation, and unexpected crises test our patience and direction. Yet, it is precisely in these chaotic moments that leadership is forged, not when everything is under control.

Take parenting. There are no perfect manuals, and children rarely follow neat, planned schedules. A toddler’s meltdown in the grocery store, a teen’s anxiety about school, or the constant negotiation around screen time are all moments that can feel chaotic. Parents who lead effectively in these moments learn to pause, observe, and guide rather than simply react. Instead of seeing these disruptions as stress, they see them as opportunities to build resilience—in themselves and in their children.

When a parent allows themselves to learn, instead of complain, after a rough morning, they discover better ways to connect with their child, manage their own triggers, and teach problem-solving. Chaos, here, is the real-life workshop for leadership at home.

The same applies to running big companies. CEOs and founders often face chaos daily: a product fails unexpectedly, a competitor disrupts the market, or a key team member quits. The leaders who grow and lead effectively do not deny the turbulence; they navigate it with curiosity.

For instance, during a sudden supply chain crisis, a leader can complain about the situation, blame others, and become paralyzed. Or, they can allow themselves to learn: reassess sourcing, develop local alternatives, communicate transparently with customers, and support their teams under pressure. This growth mindset often leads to innovative solutions, increased customer loyalty, and stronger team cohesion.

We often think formal education or structured leadership programs prepare us for these moments. While they offer frameworks, it is life itself—through its unpredictable challenges—that becomes the true teacher. Parents, mentors, community leaders, and even our children prepare us when they allow us to face real situations with real consequences. They prepare us not by shielding us from chaos but by walking alongside us, modeling how to adapt, listen, and think critically in uncertainty.

We need to stop framing every disruption as “stress” and start seeing it as a training ground for resilience. Resilience is not about suppressing discomfort; it is about using discomfort as a compass to find new strategies, new emotional strength, and new ways of leading.

When we allow ourselves to learn and not complain in chaos, growth happens naturally. Our perspective shifts from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What can I learn here?” This shift is where resilience turns into a practical tool for success, enabling us to lead ourselves, our families, and our teams with clarity and courage.

Leading is not about controlling everything; it is about leading with openness and adaptability. Whether in the kitchen with a screaming toddler or in the boardroom during a market downturn, the choice to learn rather than complain determines the quality of our growth.

In the end, chaos does not diminish us; it refines us. And every time we lead through it with curiosity and resilience, we become leaders worth following—at home, in business, and within ourselves.