Let’s talk about an essential element for professional success: mental fortitude. It’s that inner strength that helps you navigate the inevitable twists and turns of your career with grace. I’ve found that some of the principles of Stoicism can help build the mental toughness you will need to succeed, especially when combined with some good coaching strategies.
Let’s face it, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have an uneventful, straightforward career path to success. Life will throw challenges your way. Deadlines, rejections, terrible bosses— they’re all part of the game. But, it’s how you respond to these challenges that define your trajectory. This is where mental fortitude comes in handy.
Stoicism, an ancient philosophy born in Greece, teaches us to focus on what’s within our control and let go of what isn’t. It’s about finding tranquility amidst chaos. By adopting a Stoic mindset in moments of adversity, you can approach professional challenges with a sense of calm and clarity.
Imagine you’re in the midst of a high-pressure project with deadlines looming and your boss putting pressure on you. Your mind races with worry and doubts creep in. But, instead of succumbing to panic, you take a deep breath and focus on the present moment. You channel your energy into what you can influence—the quality of your work, your attitude, your response to challenges.
This shift in perspective is an example of mental fortitude. It’s acknowledging the obstacles in your path while refusing to let them derail you. It’s about facing adversity head-on with resilience and determination.
But let’s not mistake mental fortitude for stoicism in the lowercase sense—the stiff-upper-lip, suppress-your-emotions kind of attitude. No, it’s quite the opposite. True mental fortitude embraces vulnerability and acknowledges our humanity. It allows for moments of doubt and fear. It’s about facing our emotions with compassion, rather than denying their existence.
Eddie Rickenbacker, the most celebrated fighter pilot of WWI said, “Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” True courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act despite being afraid.
So, how can we cultivate mental fortitude in our own lives? It starts with self-awareness and mindfulness. Take time to reflect on your thoughts and emotions, and observe how they influence your actions. Practice gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that come your way, recognizing each as a chance for growth.
Antonia’s Story
Antonia was a client of mine who found herself in a particularly tough spot at work. She was a talented marketing manager at a high-pressure advertising agency, but her boss (let’s call him Mr. Smith) was notorious for his demanding nature and his tendency to micromanage every aspect of the team’s projects.
One day, Antonia found herself on the receiving end of yet another barrage of criticism from Mr. Smith. He had called an emergency meeting to express his dissatisfaction with the latest marketing campaign, ruthlessly picking apart every detail. As she sat listening to his harsh words, Antonia felt a wave of frustration and anger rising within her. The temptation to storm out of the meeting and quit on the spot was almost overwhelming.
But Antonia had been working on strengthening her mental fortitude, drawing inspiration from the famous Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, and his book, “Meditations.” Instead of giving in to her impulses, she took a deep breath and grounded herself in the present moment. She silently repeated a mantra I had suggested: “This too shall pass.”
As the meeting dragged on, Antonia focused on maintaining her composure and reframing her perspective. She reminded herself that Mr. Smith’s criticisms were not a reflection of her worth as a professional. Instead of internalizing his words, she chose to see them as opportunities for growth and learning. She opted not to get defensive and just noted everything he said. At the end of the meeting, she maintained her professional manner and calmly said, “Thank you for your feedback, I’ll consider this and get back to you.”
Now, Antonia knew that she couldn’t carry on working this way. Yes, while practicing mental fortitude enabled her to sit through an uncomfortable meeting, this wasn’t sustainable. She needed a plan of action. She called me to come up with a strategy for how to handle her boss. We talked about her needs and boundaries and she realized she needed to put in place a simple boundary: No one may micromanage me.
She saw that her need for independence was in direct conflict with her boss’s need to be in control. She had to come up with a way that her boss could feel in control and she could maintain her independence. The plan was to subtly manage her boss by making sure his needs were fulfilled without her boundaries being crushed.
The first step was to satisfy his need for control. Instead of doing what she instinctively felt and doing the bare minimum, she did the opposite. She decided to give him more than he asked for and started completing a weekly report of her projects and asked him for a weekly meeting to review all her projects and get his feedback.
After a few weeks of this, Mr. Smith told her, “Antonia, I don’t need these long reports. You’ve got the hang of this now. Why not just give me an email with bullet points of what you’ve accomplished each week.”
Success! In the weeks that followed, Antonia noticed a significant shift in her working dynamic with Mr. Smith. By tapping into her mental fortitude, she had not only preserved her sanity but also fostered a healthier, more productive work environment for herself and her colleagues.
Antonia’s story reminds us that mental fortitude isn’t just about weathering the storm—it’s about finding the strength and resilience to stand firm in the face of adversity. By facing her challenges head-on and coming up with a strategy instead of a knee-jerk reaction, she transformed a potential breaking point into a breakthrough, paving the way for greater career success now that she had gained her boss’s respect.
In summary, start today to take steps to build your mental fortitude. Surround yourself with a support system of mentors, coaches and friends. Seek out inspiring stories of individuals who have overcome incredible odds. Be kind to yourself: celebrate your victories, however small, and learn from your mistakes. And remember that the journey to success is a marathon, not a sprint.
Mastering mental fortitude is not just about surviving in our careers—it’s about thriving. It’s about embracing the challenges and setbacks and emerging stronger on the other side. This power of resilience will help you to navigate both the possibilities and pitfalls ahead on your path to career success.
(And if you think you might benefit from a bit of career coaching, feel free to check out our team of accredited coaches.)
Resources:
- Coach Yourself to a New Career by Talane Miedaner
- Emotional Index Quiz (to find out your top four personal and emotional needs)
