Written by: Karolynn Hardy, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Here in Australia, the latest series of SAS Australia has just finished. A program where celebrities are required to undergo many of the activities required for SAS selection, it is gruelling. The combination of the physical, mental, and emotional challenges is at a level most of us, thankfully, are never required to confront.
I became extremely curious. Consistently this correlation between this combination of physical, mental, and emotional challenge, and elite performance shows up. It is obvious in the military, in elite sports, and in extreme human experiences. It makes sense that it also exists in elite business performance, and in leadership.
A closer look at the military concept of the “thinking soldier” reveals similarities. During SAS selection, everyone has the same opportunity to implement their skills and respond to the test conditions. What sets some apart is not solely fitness or resilience, although these play a part! It is the ability of some to use pressure to become a thinking soldiers.
A thinking soldier,
Has an ability to remain composed and apply what they know to this situation. Training has taught them what to do, and in the heat of battle, they utilise this. Maintaining a solutions mindset, they adapt and apply what they know, intuitively knowing when and how to improvise to ensure the best possible outcome.
Takes control of their emotions. They feel fear but instead of it stopping them, they recognise this feeling and use it to their advantage. Remaining composed under intense pressure, this emotion drives considered action.
Knows the importance of taking care of the basics of their kit, their equipment, and themselves. This level of attention enables trust in self and others. They are ready for action at any time.
Think about any exceptional leader you know. You may start to notice some similarities with the thinking soldier. Many Leaders have similar skillsets and experiences, but it is how these skills are applied in the moments that matter, that makes the difference.
Fads come and go in modern leadership. To take lessons from the thinking soldier, there is no one leadership approach that will work in all situations. The skill is taking many effective concepts and intuitively deciding when and which ones to apply to the situation in front of you. This is like an elite form of empowerment.
Great business leaders pivot with skill when the pressure is on. They maintain control of their emotions in the heat of the moment and remain composed so they perform under pressure. Like thinking soldiers, these leaders lean into what is uncomfortable, feel the fear (usually of failure) and leverage this for the greater good.
Burnout is widespread in business and heightened by the fast-changing hybrid workplace. Effective leaders know when to be resilient, when to push boundaries and when to take care of the essentials, like rest and resources. Like a thinking soldier, great leader trusts themselves, and masters how to bring out their best and the best in others.
There it is then, elite leadership and elite performance is a mastery of physical, mental, and emotional effectiveness. Wanting to strengthen your leadership? Where is your thinking soldier?
Karolynn Hardy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Karolynn Hardy is a proud Robbins Results Coach. PCC & Master NLP qualified, Karolynn is known for her honest, passionate, and caring approach. She couples her expertise in mindset and brain health with tangible strategies. Her desire is to help clients apply these strategies through their heart and their mind to create their best life. Karolynn loves asking that key question to get to the heart of a matter. With a special interest in veteran PTSD, Karolynn pledges to be part of a solution to treating this widespread condition. Also, with an extensive career in corporate development, Karolynn understands leadership. She believes leadership comes in many forms and there is an inner leader in each of us. It is her mission to help each of her clients find their inner leader, their inside perspective, to become their best self.
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