In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Scott Mautz about his recent book, The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Scott and Jonathan discussed the importance of mental strength in leadership, with Scott sharing his insights and research from his book "The Mentally Strong Leader". They also emphasized the role of leaders in creating a positive, supportive environment for their teams and managing their own mental well-being, especially in the midst of ongoing disruptions and changes. Lastly, they discussed the significance of emotional regulation, risk-taking, and building confidence for personal and professional growth, with Scott offering tools and resources to help individuals assess and improve their mental strength.
Mental Strength in Leadership Discussion
Scott and Jonathan discussed the concept of mental strength in leadership. Scott explained that mental strength is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors productively, even in adverse circumstances. He highlighted that this capability is essential for successful leadership and shared his findings from a survey of over 3,000 executives, indicating that mentally strong leaders exhibit specific traits like fortitude, confidence, boldness, goal focus, positive messaging, and integrity. Scott concluded that mental strength is a leadership superpower that drives achievement and overcoming obstacles.
Mental Strength and Agility in the Workplace
Scott and Jonathan discussed the importance of mental strength and agility in the workplace, particularly in the midst of ongoing disruptions and changes. They emphasized the role of leaders in creating a positive, supportive environment for their teams while also managing their own mental well-being. Scott introduced his book, "The Mentally Strong Leader", which aims to provide tools and habits to build six core mental muscles and deal with daily challenges. They highlighted the significance of habit-building science in developing these mental strengths and overcoming moments of weakness.
Mental Strength and Leadership Development
Scott and Jonathan discussed the importance of mental strength in leadership and personal development. Scott proposed that building specific habits can help individuals become more mentally strong, especially during challenging times. Jonathan agreed, highlighting the significance of showing emotional intelligence and compassion towards others, especially during the pandemic. They both emphasized that mental strength is not only beneficial for leaders but for anyone looking to improve their self-leadership and overall well-being.
Emotional Regulation and Mental Strength in Leadership
Jonathan and Scott discussed the importance of emotional regulation and mental strength in leadership. Jonathan shared his experiences with being triggered by certain situations and how he has learned to respond to them in a more productive way. Scott emphasized that no one is expected to be mentally strong all the time and that developing a customized mental strength training program can help individuals work on specific muscles over time. They also highlighted the importance of vulnerability, forgiveness, and generosity in building relationships. Towards the end, they planned to discuss specific habits or structures that can help build mental strength.
Risk-Taking Strategies for Business Growth
Scott emphasized the importance of taking risks and thinking outside the box for business growth. He introduced a tool based on a casino scenario involving the game of craps to illustrate the concept. Jonathan shared his experience with craps, and Scott explained how the game mirrors risk-taking in the workplace, where people often fail to take smart risks due to fear and lack of understanding. Scott proposed defining the rules of risk-taking for organizations to encourage boldness and presented a list of 20 specific questions to help establish these rules.
Cultivating Mental Strength and Confidence
Scott and Jonathan discussed the importance of cultivating mental strength and building confidence for personal and professional growth. They highlighted that boldness and psychological safety are crucial for innovation and creativity, and that individuals need to learn to manage their relationships with self-doubt and self-acceptance to achieve this. Scott shared two tools from his book, "The Mentally Strong Leader," to help individuals assess and improve their mental strength and self-acceptance. He also offered a free 60-page download from his website to assist listeners in their mental strength journey.
Listen to the webinar here: