Resilient Leadership Insights: Maria Leonard Olsen of www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com

Maria Leonard Olsen practices law as a commercial litigator in Washington, DC. She is an author (50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life), podcaster (“Becoming Your Best Version”), journalist, TEDx speaker (“Turning Life’s Challenges into a Force for Good”), book marketing coach for female authors and mentor to women in recovery. Maria served as a political appointee in the Clinton Justice Department and on numerous boards. She writes for several women in midlife publications (including AARP’s The Ethel, The Midst, KuelLife and CrunchyTales) and is a frequent public speaker on wellness issues. Her next books will be DNA Test Surprises: What To Do Before and After You Open the Pandora’s Box of Consumer DNA Testing and 60 After 60: Finding Serenity in Your 60s or at Any Age. Learn more at MariaLeonardOlsen.com and follow her on social media @FiftyAfter50.

Company: www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com

We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.

Maria Leonard Olsen: I practice law in Washington, DC at a small litigation firm. I also am an author, podcaster, journalist, TEDx speaker, book marketing coach for female authors and mentor to women in recovery. I am a frequent public speaker on wellness issues and write primarily in the realm of women in midlife. My personal company, MariaLeonardOlsen.com, helps women discover who they are and share their stories.

Can you share a time when your business faced a significant challenge? How did you navigate through it?

Maria Leonard Olsen: Finding a publisher for my book on the legal and other implications of consumer DNA tests was quite challenging. I never lost faith in the importance of my writing to help others navigate fraught journeys. I worked on it daily for five years! I hired an agent who was so helpful in helping me find the right publisher for my work. Never give up on something you believe in, and you can manifest it.

How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success?

Maria Leonard Olsen: I was an alcoholic and lost my marriage and many other things. I essentially had to start over in my life. I took another state’s bar exam and started a new law career. I felt guilty and rudderless, but picked myself back up, and now help others who have substance abuse issues. We all have life challenges. We can learn to grow from them. Every person and experience have the capacity to teach us something if we are open to the lessons.

How do you build a resilient team? What qualities do you look for in your team members?

Maria Leonard Olsen: When interviewing, explore with the applicants how they overcame challenges in their lives. All businesses will have to overcome setbacks of some kind. Learn how resilient and resourceful your potential employees are before you hire them. Ensure that they are team players and will pay forward what they learn.

How do you maintain your personal resilience during tough times?

Maria Leonard Olsen: I spend a good amount of time focusing on successes and gratitude. I practice self-care, which includes mental, physical, social, psychological and emotional aspects. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so you must take care of yourself before you can be your best version for others. I seek mentors and trusted people in my life with whom I can process difficult things. Helping others also is a good way to get out of your own head when feeling down.

What strategies do you use to manage stress and maintain focus during a crisis?

Maria Leonard Olsen: Practicing self-care helps with stress. That means getting exercise, getting outside help when necessary, journaling, talking things through with someone you can trust, and surrounding myself with people who uplift and encourage me.

How do you communicate with your team during a crisis?

Maria Leonard Olsen: It is important to demonstrate strength and calm to your team. Allow them to have a voice and express concerns. Make yourself available and safe to talk to with others. Share resources. Call your team together to foster unity, as much as needed.

What advice would you give to other CEOs on building resilience in their organizations?

Maria Leonard Olsen: Model for your team the kind of employee you would like to be. Set up a training and mentorship program. Ensure that institutional experience and knowledge is passed down to newer team members. Build a bank of resources that your employees can use.

How do you prepare your business for potential future crises?

Maria Leonard Olsen: Ensure that you have resilient, resourceful people on your team and that you are accessible as a leader. Continually assess the effectiveness of your communications and keep abreast of trends and challenges in your industry by reading relevant publications, networking and sharing information within your organization. Celebrate successes and provide recognition to excellent employees. Make team members feel appreciated.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about leadership in times of crisis?

Maria Leonard Olsen: There always will be challenges. Being able to pivot is important. Do not get set in your ways. Strive to be dynamic in your approach to your work and continually learning about new ways to approach issues in your field. Remember that success is not usually linear.

https://valiantceo.com/maria-leonard-olsen-of-www-marialeonardolsen-com/