On Saturday, Britsh prime minster Boris Johnson announced that the U.K. would effectively be entering a second national lockdown from Thursday. This lockdown, which came as a surprise to many, is due to last for four weeks, ending on 2 December. 

In this environment of extreme uncertainty, leaders will need to keep thinking positively and draw on their resilience in order to keep a cool head. So, how can they do this? Here, seven successful entrepreneurs, mentors and business owners offer their top tips for remaining resilient through a second national lockdown.

1.     Believe that NO means Next Opportunity

“The secret of my success was to always think of the corridor concept and believe that with the right determination and persistence, doors would always open for me,” says Darren Lewitt, businessman, mentor and author of Dream, Create, Believe, Achieve. “Why not challenge yourself and decide which doors and corridors you ultimately aim to conquer? Sometimes a door will be shut firmly in your face, but you must not let that set you back. I have always believed that if someone says ‘NO’ it simply means ‘Next Opportunity’. Stay positive and believe that things happen for a reason and you’ll do just fine.”

2.     Don’t take setbacks personally, see them as feedback

“Life is a constant test of character, belief and ideals,” observes Leonard Sekyonda, an entrepreneur, mentor and author of Be Your Own Hero Again. “Throughout life we are presented with many obstacles and challenges that will test us, but it is only through resilience that we are truly able to go after what we aspire to achieve in life. To be resilient is to not give up, just pick yourself up and try again. So many people stop at the first few obstacles they face and, as a result, never get to discover their true capability. I believe resilience is the ability to not take our setbacks personally but instead to see them as feedback.”

3.     Be prepared to pivot 

“Life as a business owner is very tough and not for the faint-hearted,” argues Tracey Smolinski, founder of global business network Introbiz and co-author of Inspirational Women of the World. “As soon as Covid-19 hit, we had to make very fast decisions to alter and pivot the business. From doing all our business 100% face-to-face we had to shift, learning the skills of Zoom and other online platforms. It is so important to have a good network around you in these challenging times.”

4.     Don’t be afraid of making mistakes – none of us are perfect

“Over the years I have made a lot of mistakes that have cost me time and money, millions sometimes,” says Gian Paolo Aliatis, a serial entrepreneur and co-living property expert. “From mistakes comes wisdom, however. In the long run, my mistakes will save me 10-fold in profit compared with what I lost making those initial mistakes. I am still surprised by the level of business and industry knowledge that I have managed to acquire.”

5.     Accept that you can’t control everything

“Try to accept the situation you’re in, rather than put energy into fighting or questioning things,” advises Blake Auden, a graphic artist and poet. “It takes time, but once we come to accept what’s going on, we can focus on taking positive steps to improve the things we can control. I try to count the things I’m grateful for once a day, limit my exposure to the news and negative social media, and do all I can to actively seek out positive stories. Lastly, I try to focus on my art: on turning everything I’m feeling into something creative. Every day I make time to write, draw, journal, paint – anything that gives the day some structure and allows me to forget the outside world for just a little while.”

6.     Choose to be joyful and positive 

“Something I remind myself of every single day is to choose joy and positivity over anything else,” reveals Emilia Ohrtmann, serial entrepreneur, designer and author of It’s Your Life: How to Choose Confidence. “Whether it’s enjoying some special bonding times with your children, connecting with old friends via the internet, trying something new like baking or a new yoga posture, being a child again or dancing in the living room to loud music, look for the little things that bring joy.”

7.     Get reacquainted with nature… and your partner

“Take advantage of the opportunity to exercise outdoors,” recommends Suzanne Pool, a women’s empowerment expert and author of Discipline: A Secret Code for Women in the Bedroom, Boardroom and Beyond. “A brisk walk every day is great for mental health. It’s an opportunity to process our thoughts and release pent-up energy. A walk also provides some structure in the day – it’s a useful anchor when many of our routines have been taken away from us. My other tip is to have some fun with your other half. Lockdown means we’re spending far more time with our partners, but that’s a useful chance to get to know each other again, and possibly rekindle some dwindling flames.”

The next four weeks are set to be a testing time for U.K. leaders, who will be expected to maintain the morale of their teams without knowing exactly what lies ahead. By focusing on these seven tips, they can help to enhance their own resilience so they emerge from the latest lockdown in a good state of mind.

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Sally Percy

I am a business and finance journalist who writes about a wide range of topics from artificial intelligence, careers and diversity through to banking, treasury and wealth…Read More
— Read on www.forbes.com/sites/sallypercy/2020/11/04/seven-ways-to-keep-a-cool-head-during-lockdown/

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