What Ashton Jeanty Taught Me About Leadership Grit

If you haven’t seen our recent post about Ashton Jeanty—the gritty Boise State running back who led the nation in rushing yards—you need to. What stood out wasn’t just his talent, but how most of his yardage came after contact.

For the non-sports folks: "yards after contact" measures how far an offensive player (the guy with the ball) gains after the defender (the one trying to tackle him) first touches him.

Time and again, Jeanty stayed upright, focused on the end zone, pushing forward through the hit. He didn’t avoid contact—he outlasted it.

That’s what resilient leadership looks like.

Not dodging conflict, criticism, or chaos—but advancing after adversity. Because if you lead, you will be hit. That’s part of the job—absorbing as much of the pressure as possible so your team can keep moving the ball down the field.

Resilience isn’t just a personality trait; it’s a learned skillset. And it’s more necessary now than ever. Below are five essential ingredients to resilient leadership—and a few resources to help you grow in each one.

1. Staying Calm Under Pressure

When tension rises, non-resilient leaders either shut down or lash out. Neither is helpful. But resilient leaders stay grounded, keep others focused, and bring clarity in the chaos. Their presence steadies the room—even when things feel uncertain.

Resource:

“How Resilience Works” – Harvard Business Review (Coutu, 2002)

2. Inspiring Hope While Facing Hard Truths

Resilient leaders don’t sugarcoat failure—but they don’t get stuck in it, either. They marry honesty with hope so their team doesn't lose heart. They analyze what went wrong (staying optimistic about solutions), they cast a hopeful vision, and help build a plan their team can execute.

Resources:

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman

3. Seeing Failure as Feedback

Failure is inevitable. But resilient leaders don’t waste it. Instead, they examine it, learn from it, and grow. Resilient leaders are open to feedback—even when it’s uncomfortable—and constantly adapt to changing circumstances.

Resources:

"Tips for Improving Your Learning Agility" - Center for Creative Leadership

Grit by Angela Duckworth

4. Knowing Your “Why”

At some point, every leader wonders, “Is this worth it?” Resilient leaders are grounded in a bigger “why”—something beyond personal gain. Purpose keeps you in the game when everything else says quit because without a strong why, leadership setbacks will feel like dead ends instead of detours.

Resources:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

“Purpose: Shifting from Why to How” – McKinsey & Company

5. Staying Anchored in God

It’s no secret I’m a follower of Jesus. What you may not know is that my relationship with Him is my greatest source of resilience. He anchors me, steadies me, and gives me hope. Through prayer and Scripture, I find clarity, courage, and purpose.

If your life and leadership aren’t grounded in a relationship with Jesus and you want that to change, talk to a trusted believer. Or email our team—we’d love to have that conversation because you are our “why.”

Resources:

The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero

"7 Year Trends: Pastors Feel More Loneliness & Less Support" - Barna Group

Resilient Pastor by Glenn Packiam

While two of these resources focus on pastors, they contain helpful information for any kingdom-minded leader who desires for their leadership to be grounded in their faith in Jesus.

Resilient Leaders Don’t Go It Alone

Each of these traits can be developed, and we've given you some great resources to help you grow. But information alone won’t make you more resilient. A few years ago, I gave each member of our team a framed photo of a turtle on a fence post. Why? Because that turtle didn’t get there alone—and neither do resilient leaders.

If you’re feeling weary—if your grit is running low—don’t lead alone.

Find your executive coach now.

Download the Info Guide.

Or schedule a free session to talk to someone.

Resilient leaders don’t wait until crisis hits to ask for help. They surround themselves with truth-tellers and coaches who challenge, support, and sharpen them consistently.

Let us walk with you, fight for your growth, and help you take more ground—even after the hits.