I recently read a piece by McKinsey calling the CEO “the Chief Resilience Officer.” Now, I get where they’re coming from. These days, being a CEO means you’re part leader, part therapist, part psychic, and part firefighter—all while trying not to spill your coffee on your keyboard. Again. But resilience? It’s a survival skill.
At Simms & Associates, we don’t build resilience in our company by toughing it out alone. We build it by empowering our people, removing roadblocks, and making space for joy—even in the chaos. If CEOs are going to be anything, I’d say we’re not just resilience officers—we’re Chief Empowerment Officers.
The world isn’t short on challenges. But the question I ask myself isn’t, “How do I steer this ship through the storm?” It’s, “How do I make sure the crew feels strong, seen, and supported enough to sail with me?”
Leadership Today Isn’t About Having All the Answers
Gone are the days when being a CEO meant having the loudest voice or the most polished five-year plan. Today, leadership is about creating an environment where people feel safe to speak up, to make mistakes, to try again. That’s how real resilience is built—from the inside out.
Want to weather change? Start with trust. Start with clarity. Start by treating people like grown-ups who actually care (because they do—if we give them a reason to).
Empowerment is Resilience
You can’t “bounce back” from tough times if you’re working in a culture where no one’s allowed to think for themselves or challenge the status quo. Bureaucracy doesn’t build resilience. People do. And when they’re empowered to make decisions, solve problems, and shape the future, magic happens.
At S&A, we’re not interested in rigid rules or top-down control. We’re about co-creation, autonomy, and lifting each other up—because high-performing teams aren’t born out of fear; they’re grown through purpose and possibility.
It’s Not Soft to Care
Some leaders still flinch when you talk about happiness at work—as if it’s some fluffy extra we’ll get to once the “real business” is done. But here’s the truth: happy people make better decisions. They collaborate better. They innovate faster. And yes, they bounce back stronger.
Resilience isn’t a stiff upper lip. It’s knowing someone’s got your back. It’s feeling seen. It’s working in a place where you can show up fully—laugh lines, odd lunch habits and all.
So, What’s the Real Job of a CEO?
To me, it’s simple: create the conditions where people can thrive. That means:
- Ditching the hero complex—no one needs a solo saviour; they need someone who listens.
- Turning strategy into something human—less about “deliverables,” more about why it matters.
- Leading with joy, not just grit—because humour might be the most underrated leadership skill out there.
At Simms & Associates, we’re not just building business solutions. We’re building workplaces that work for people. And that takes resilience, yes—but also trust, love, and a willingness to evolve. We don’t always get it right (who does?), but we keep showing up. Because when our people thrive, so does our business.
And if that makes me a Chief Resilience Officer—okay. But personally? I prefer Chief Joy Enabler.
Let’s lead with heart, not hype. Because happy people don’t just drive your business—they are your business.
Love,
Amanda