Strategic Resilience - Why Leaders Can’t Wing It Anymore
- Walter McKenzie
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
June is Better Communications Month at The Worthy Educator!
Melissa Schmidiger is the founder and CEO of Bravo Darlings, providing executive services for women leaders. Her values are authenticity, empowerment and transformation. Melissa's mother and grandparents were educators, and she is happy to share this piece which was originally posted through her Rise and Thrive Newsletter on June 6th. You can contact Melissa via email here.
Thank you for sharing your insights with us, Melissa!
Dear High Achiever,
In 2025, a staggering 66% of employees report experiencing burnout, with 44% of leaders feeling emotionally drained by the end of the workday. These figures underscore a critical issue: when strategy is replaced by survival mode, decision fatigue, emotional reactivity, and exhaustion take over.
The truth? You can’t “grit” your way to sustainable leadership. What got you through the storm won’t build your next season.
If your calendar feels like a game of Tetris or you've been on autopilot lately, you're not alone. The bold move? Stepping back to design for resilience.
🔑 7 Patterns That Drain Your Leadership Capacity
Not sure if you’ve slipped into survival mode? These subtle signs add up:
You say “next week”... every week. The reset never really happens.
Meetings fill your calendar, but not your clarity. You're constantly talking, but not always deciding.
You can’t remember the last time you had white space. Your margin is missing, and so is your perspective.
You’re defaulting to what’s urgent, not what’s strategic. Every day feels like playing whack-a-mole.
Rest feels indulgent. And even when you do rest, it doesn’t feel restorative.
You’re reactive with your team (or yourself). The patience tank is low. The pressure is high.
You secretly wonder, “Is this really sustainable?” If you’ve asked that lately, you already know the answer.
🚀 A Bold Shift™️: Strategic Resilience
Strategic resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about building forward, on purpose. Here's how I help leaders make that shift using my Bold Shift™️ framework:
Energy Capacity → Where are your boundaries? Where do you leak energy?
Cognitive Clarity → Are you leading from reaction or from grounded clarity?
Intentional Focus → What are you saying yes to—and what’s falling through the cracks
These aren’t mindset tweaks. They’re operational upgrades for your leadership.
⚡ Try This: Two Micro-Practices to Test This Weekend
1. Clarity in the Noise. Block 20 minutes. Write down everything on your mental plate. Circle just ONE thing that moves the needle next week.
2. Energy Audit. Track your day in 3 buckets:
Activities that drain
Activities that maintain
Activities that energize
Then ask: What can I eliminate, automate, or delegate next week?
These tiny shifts lead to major capacity gains over time.
🧠 The Bottom Line:
Resilience isn’t about enduring more. It’s about designing better. You don’t need more time. You need more intention.
To your leadership growth,
Melissa
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Got something that needs to be heard? We'll get it said and read on the Worthy Educator blog! Email it to walter@theworthyeducator.com
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