HBR's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness (with bonus interview "Post-Traumatic Growth and Building Resilience" with Martin Seligman)

1. Resilience is the key to thriving in adversity

"We have learned not only how to distinguish those who will grow after failure from those who will collapse, but also how to build the skills of people in the latter category."

Resilience is learnable. Through decades of research, psychologists have discovered that resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity—is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed. Key components of resilience include:

• Optimistic explanatory style: Interpreting setbacks as temporary, specific, and changeable
• Problem-solving skills: Approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset
• Social support: Building and maintaining strong relationships
• Emotional regulation: Managing stress and negative emotions effectively

Practical applications: Organizations can foster resilience in their employees through targeted training programs, mentoring relationships, and creating a supportive work environment. Individuals can cultivate resilience by practicing optimistic thinking, seeking out challenges, and developing a growth mindset.

2. Positive emotions fuel high performance

"As well as positive emotions ignite the energy that drives high performance, negative emotions—frustration, impatience, anger, fear, resentment, and sadness—drain energy."

Emotional management is crucial. Positive emotions such as joy, interest, and pride broaden our thought-action repertoires and build enduring personal resources. They enhance creativity, problem-solving, and interpersonal relationships. Conversely, negative emotions narrow our focus and deplete our energy.

To harness the power of positive emotions:

• Practice gratitude: Regularly reflect on things you're thankful for
• Savor positive experiences: Fully engage in and appreciate good moments
• Cultivate optimism: Look for opportunities in challenges
• Build positive relationships: Surround yourself with supportive people

Workplace implications: Leaders can create a positive emotional climate by recognizing achievements, fostering teamwork, and providing opportunities for growth and development. This, in turn, can lead to increased engagement, productivity, and innovation.

3. Cognitive fitness enhances mental agility

"Leadership development programs often touch on these skills, but the MRT program brings them together in systematic form to ensure that even in the face of terrible failures—those that cost lives—army sergeants know how to help the men and women under their command flourish rather than flounder."

Mental agility is crucial for leadership. Cognitive fitness involves the ability to adapt, learn, and solve problems effectively. It encompasses skills such as:

• Attention control: Focusing on relevant information and ignoring distractions
• Working memory: Holding and manipulating information in mind
• Cognitive flexibility: Adapting to new situations and thinking creatively
• Pattern recognition: Identifying trends and making connections

Developing cognitive fitness:

• Engage in challenging mental activities (e.g., learning a new language, solving puzzles)
• Practice mindfulness meditation to improve focus and attention
• Seek out diverse experiences and perspectives to enhance cognitive flexibility
• Use spaced repetition and active recall techniques for better learning and memory

Leaders who prioritize cognitive fitness are better equipped to navigate complex challenges, make sound decisions, and guide their teams through uncertainty.

4. Physical well-being forms the foundation of resilience

"While it's good to feel challenged, you need to make sure that any feedback you get is constructive."

Physical health underpins mental resilience. A strong physical foundation supports cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Key aspects of physical resilience include:

• Regular exercise: Improves mood, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive function
• Adequate sleep: Crucial for memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and recovery
• Proper nutrition: Fuels the body and brain for optimal performance
• Stress management: Techniques like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation

Practical strategies:

• Incorporate physical activity into daily routines (e.g., walking meetings, standing desks)
• Establish consistent sleep schedules and create a sleep-conducive environment
• Choose nutrient-dense foods and stay hydrated
• Take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge and manage stress

Organizations can support employees' physical well-being through wellness programs, ergonomic workspaces, and policies that encourage work-life balance.

5. Emotional capacity drives peak performance

"Elite performers in both arenas thrive on pressure; they excel when the heat is turned up."

Emotional intelligence is key. Emotional capacity refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions and those of others. It plays a crucial role in leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships. Components of emotional capacity include:

• Self-awareness: Understanding one's own emotions and their impact
• Self-regulation: Managing emotions and impulses effectively
• Empathy: Recognizing and understanding others' emotions
• Social skills: Building and maintaining relationships

Developing emotional capacity:

• Practice mindfulness to increase self-awareness
• Use cognitive reframing techniques to manage negative emotions
• Actively listen and seek to understand others' perspectives
• Engage in role-playing exercises to improve social skills

Leaders with high emotional capacity can create psychologically safe environments, inspire trust, and motivate their teams to achieve peak performance.

6. Mental toughness is built through deliberate practice

"The resilience regimen is a long-term fitness plan, not a crash diet."

Consistency is crucial. Mental toughness—the ability to persist in the face of challenges and bounce back from setbacks—is developed through deliberate, consistent practice. Key elements of building mental toughness include:

• Setting challenging goals and persevering through obstacles
• Developing a growth mindset and embracing failure as a learning opportunity
• Practicing self-discipline and delayed gratification
• Cultivating a strong support network

Practical applications:

• Regularly engage in activities that push you out of your comfort zone
• Reflect on setbacks and identify lessons learned
• Develop daily habits that reinforce self-discipline (e.g., meditation, journaling)
• Seek out mentors and accountability partners

Organizations can foster mental toughness by creating a culture that values learning, encourages calculated risk-taking, and provides opportunities for stretch assignments.

7. Spiritual purpose provides sustenance in challenging times

"By spiritual capacity, we simply mean the energy that is unleashed by tapping into one's deepest values and defining a strong sense of purpose."

Purpose fuels resilience. A sense of purpose and connection to something greater than oneself can provide meaning and motivation during difficult times. Spiritual capacity encompasses:

• Clarifying personal values and aligning actions with them
• Developing a sense of meaning and purpose in work and life
• Cultivating gratitude and appreciation
• Practicing mindfulness and self-reflection

Developing spiritual capacity:

• Engage in regular reflection on personal values and life goals
• Seek opportunities to contribute to something larger than yourself
• Practice gratitude by keeping a daily gratitude journal
• Incorporate mindfulness practices into daily routines

Leaders who tap into their spiritual capacity can inspire and motivate others by connecting their work to a larger purpose and creating a sense of shared meaning within their teams.

8. Effective negotiation requires understanding and collaboration

"In effect, we realized, these executives are 'corporate athletes.' If they were to perform at high levels over the long haul, we posited, they would have to train in the same systematic, multilevel way that world-class athletes do."

Collaboration trumps confrontation. Successful negotiation in high-stakes situations requires a shift from adversarial tactics to collaborative problem-solving. Key principles include:

• Seeking to understand the other party's interests and motivations
• Focusing on creating value rather than simply claiming it
• Maintaining flexibility and creativity in generating solutions
• Building trust and long-term relationships

Negotiation strategies:

• Prepare thoroughly by researching the other party's perspective and potential interests
• Ask open-ended questions to uncover underlying needs and concerns
• Propose multiple options and invite the other party to improve upon them
• Look for opportunities to create mutual gains

By approaching negotiations as a collaborative process, leaders can achieve more sustainable and beneficial outcomes for all parties involved.

9. Trust-building is essential for long-term success

"Skilled in extremis negotiators never make arbitrary concessions in an effort to buy goodwill. Instead they build trust over time through incremental and reciprocal commitments."

Trust is earned incrementally. Building and maintaining trust is crucial for effective leadership, teamwork, and long-term success. Key components of trust-building include:

• Consistency between words and actions
• Transparency and open communication
• Demonstrating competence and reliability
• Showing genuine care and concern for others

Practical trust-building strategies:

• Follow through on commitments, no matter how small
• Share information openly and admit mistakes when they occur
• Continuously develop and demonstrate expertise in your field
• Take time to understand and support others' needs and goals

Leaders who prioritize trust-building create environments where innovation, collaboration, and high performance can flourish.

10. Post-traumatic growth can lead to personal transformation

"Even a dramatic career failure can become a springboard to success if you respond in the right way."

Adversity can catalyze growth. Post-traumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. This growth can manifest in various ways:

• Increased personal strength and resilience
• Deeper appreciation for life and relationships
• Discovery of new possibilities or life paths
• Spiritual growth or deepening of existential beliefs

Fostering post-traumatic growth:

• Acknowledge and process emotions related to the traumatic event
• Seek social support and share your experiences with others
• Engage in meaning-making activities (e.g., journaling, creative expression)
• Set new goals and pursue personal development opportunities

Leaders who understand and cultivate post-traumatic growth can help themselves and their teams navigate challenges more effectively and emerge stronger from adversity.

Last updated: March 28, 2025