James R. Rector
Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal
Every leader takes hits. Plans stall, teams stumble, markets shift. The difference between those who burn out and those who last is the ability to reset.
The inner reset is not denial. It does not pretend the loss never happened. It accepts the setback fully, then makes a choice: begin again. Leaders who reset quickly avoid the drag of blame and self-pity.
Resetting starts with rhythm. Protect sleep. Move your body. Create small routines that anchor you when everything else shakes. Then reset perspective. Step back and ask, what did this teach us, what is still in our control, what is the very next step.
Leaders who reset well model resilience for their teams. When the leader recovers with clarity and steadiness, the team learns they can, too.
Resetting does not erase difficulty. It redeems it. Leaders who master the inner reset are not immune to struggle-they are simply unwilling to stay down.
At Home
Families know resets too. A heated argument, a bad grade, a broken promise-none of these define the whole story. Parents who show how to pause, apologize, and start fresh teach children that resilience is not bouncing without breaking, but choosing to begin again.
About the series: The 3-Minute Leader™ is a weekly micro-essay for emerging and promotable executives.
James Rector
James Rector is the founder and publisher of Profiles in Leadership Journal, a publication that has honored over 2,500 leaders in its 27-year history. His work focuses on spotlighting individuals whose character, courage, and quiet consistency shape the future of leadership.
