Abstract
In the consulting industry, employees are often expected to exhibit resilience in the face of challenges. Many leaders attribute employee struggles to a lack of personal resilience or to an inability to meet the pace and expectations of their roles. This viewpoint, however, tends to overlook deeper systemic issues, including inadequate leadership skills and support, limited capacity, and the assignment of tasks that exceed employees’ skill levels. As a result, resilience is framed as an individual responsibility, while the critical role of leadership in creating a supportive and empowering work environment is downplayed.
This study explored the role of transformational leadership in fostering workplace resilience. Using a qualitative research approach, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively sampled participants and analysed using thematic analysis to uncover key insights. The findings revealed that, while employees recognise the importance of resilience, they often perceive a disconnect between leadership expectations and the reality of individual and organisational challenges that impede their ability to cope effectively. Notable themes identified systemic deficiencies and a lack of skills in supporting resilience-building among staff. Importantly, the research underscores the potential of transformational leadership to bridge this gap, emphasising practices such as cultivating psychological safety, offering individualised support, and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous feedback. These practices are shown to be instrumental in creating an environment where resilience can be developed and sustained.
The study concluded that targeted training in transformational leadership is essential for equipping leaders with the skills to manage and foster resilience effectively. Such training can enable organisations to create more supportive, resilient, and engaged teams, ultimately contributing to greater employee well-being and organisational success. This research offers valuable insights for organisations balancing high performance with sustainable resilience practices.