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The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors
Award-winning, bestselling author Scott Mautz defines mental strength as the ability to self-regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve exceptional outcomes, despite adversity. It's the leadership superpower of our times. Mentally strong leaders are in control of themselves and their environment; they have endurance, are disciplined, and external stressors make their decision-making sharper.
The Mentally Strong Leader gives listeners a mental exercise plan to become such a leader. Listeners will walk away with a menu of over fifty proven tools they can choose from to build a tailored set of habits in six areas that will make them mentally fortitude, decision-making, confidence, goal-focus, boldness, and messaging.
Inspired by Mautz's hit LinkedIn Learning course, "10 Habits of Mentally Strong People," his twenty-five years leading some of Procter & Gamble's multi-billion-dollar businesses, and over thirty years of studying this topic, The Mentally Strong Leader relies on data and research, habit-building science, and practical tools and exercises to create enduring understandings for listeners. Mautz begins with an explanation of the power of mental strength and offers a Mental Strength Self-Assessment. He finishes by providing a Mental Action Plan (MAP) to help listeners create their own, tailored practice.
The Mentally Strong Leader gives listeners a mental exercise plan to become such a leader. Listeners will walk away with a menu of over fifty proven tools they can choose from to build a tailored set of habits in six areas that will make them mentally fortitude, decision-making, confidence, goal-focus, boldness, and messaging.
Inspired by Mautz's hit LinkedIn Learning course, "10 Habits of Mentally Strong People," his twenty-five years leading some of Procter & Gamble's multi-billion-dollar businesses, and over thirty years of studying this topic, The Mentally Strong Leader relies on data and research, habit-building science, and practical tools and exercises to create enduring understandings for listeners. Mautz begins with an explanation of the power of mental strength and offers a Mental Strength Self-Assessment. He finishes by providing a Mental Action Plan (MAP) to help listeners create their own, tailored practice.
360 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2024
About the author
Scott Mautz
4 books7 followers● Scott Mautz is a popular business-inspirational keynote speaker who talks and trains internationally on leadership/self-
leadership, world-class teams, employee engagement, thriving in change, peak performance, and creating meaning at work
● He's a former Procter & Gamble senior executive who successfully ran four of the company's largest multi-billion dollar
businesses all while transforming organizational health scores along the way
● He's a multi award-winning author who's books include: Leading from the Middle, Find the Fire, and Make It Matter
● Scott is Faculty at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business for Executive Education, where he teaches others-oriented
leadership and the secret to sustaining motivation
● He's been named a "CEO Thought-leader" by The Chief Executives Guild and a "Top 50 Leadership Innovator" by Inc.com,
where he was a top columnist with well over 1 million monthly readers
● Scott's the CEO of Profound Performance™, a keynote, training, and coaching company that helps you ignite profound
performance
● He's a frequent guest across national media
Scott lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and daughter (who is growing up too fast)
leadership, world-class teams, employee engagement, thriving in change, peak performance, and creating meaning at work
● He's a former Procter & Gamble senior executive who successfully ran four of the company's largest multi-billion dollar
businesses all while transforming organizational health scores along the way
● He's a multi award-winning author who's books include: Leading from the Middle, Find the Fire, and Make It Matter
● Scott is Faculty at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business for Executive Education, where he teaches others-oriented
leadership and the secret to sustaining motivation
● He's been named a "CEO Thought-leader" by The Chief Executives Guild and a "Top 50 Leadership Innovator" by Inc.com,
where he was a top columnist with well over 1 million monthly readers
● Scott's the CEO of Profound Performance™, a keynote, training, and coaching company that helps you ignite profound
performance
● He's a frequent guest across national media
Scott lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and daughter (who is growing up too fast)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 4, 2024
The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors by Scott Mautz explores the essence of mentally strong leadership and provides tools to help leaders harness their inner strength to inspire and guide their teams effectively. This summary delves into the key principles and habits discussed in the book, outlining how to develop the qualities of a mentally strong leader. By incorporating the following principles into daily routines, leaders can enhance their mental strength and lead their teams to success even in the face of adversity.
1. Fortitude: Reframe setbacks as opportunities and persevere through challenges.
2. Confidence: Handle criticism constructively, cultivate optimism, and engage in deliberate practice.
3. Boldness: Embrace risk-taking, challenge limiting beliefs, and think big.
4. Messaging: Control emotional reactions, use constructive language, and maintain a positive outlook.
5. Decision-making: Use a disciplined, data-driven approach and regularly anticipate industry trends.
6. Goal-focus: Set intrinsically motivating goals, break them down into manageable steps, and combat procrastination.
Imagine a leader who transforms a mundane meeting into an inspiring session with their calm and commanding presence. This leader embodies mental strength, a quality that sets exceptional leaders apart. The book explores how to become a mentally strong leader by managing emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs to achieve outstanding outcomes even in challenging circumstances.
Mental strength is the ability to maintain self-discipline and focus to overcome challenges. It involves effective management of emotions and thoughts, resilience in adversity, and a calm demeanor under pressure. Mental strength is demonstrated through six key tests: fortitude, confidence, boldness, messaging, decision-making, and goal-focus.
Fortitude involves self-determination and perseverance through challenges. Leaders with fortitude reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth. For example, Sharon, a business leader, faced a significant challenge when a major retail customer threatened to drop her company's product. Instead of seeing this as a defeat, she viewed it as an opportunity to build stronger partnerships with other retailers, ultimately leading to long-term success.
Confidence is essential for overcoming insecurities and leading effectively. Maya, a nonprofit project leader, transformed her self-doubt into a driving force for success. By embracing her doubts, focusing on her skills, and not comparing herself to others, she successfully managed a monumental project. Leaders can build confidence by handling criticism constructively, cultivating optimism, and engaging in deliberate practice to refine specific aspects of their work.
Boldness involves encouraging risk-taking and expansive thinking. Kurt, a school administrator, faced skepticism when proposing a new initiative to transform teacher-parent interactions. Despite initial resistance, his bold vision and perseverance led to the successful adoption of his approach. Leaders should allow themselves to dream big, challenge limiting beliefs, and replace them with empowering ones to achieve transformative outcomes.
Messaging affects how leaders influence their teams' perceptions and motivations. Charlotte, who faced unexpected rejection of her proposal, maintained her composure, listened to feedback, and refined her proposal. Leaders should control their emotional reactions, use constructive language, and maintain a positive outlook to foster an inclusive and supportive environment.
Decision-making requires a disciplined, data-driven approach. Vijay, a CEO, set aside personal biases and embraced a structured approach to a crucial business transition. Leaders can improve decision-making by clarifying roles, involving the right people, and using data and expert advice. Regularly understanding industry trends and engaging in scenario planning can enhance predictive abilities and prevent reactive decisions.
Goal-focus involves maintaining a clear vision and disciplined action towards objectives. Javier, a sales leader, kept his team focused on an ambitious goal despite numerous obstacles. Leaders should set intrinsically motivating goals, break them down into manageable steps, visualize success, and combat procrastination. This helps maintain focus, build momentum, and achieve significant results.
The journey to becoming a mentally strong leader involves cultivating habits that regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. By developing fortitude, confidence, boldness, effective messaging, decision-making clarity, and goal-focus, leaders can handle challenges with grace and achieve consistent, exceptional results. Building these habits transforms challenges into opportunities for growth, leading to a more effective and inspiring leadership style.
1. Fortitude: Reframe setbacks as opportunities and persevere through challenges.
2. Confidence: Handle criticism constructively, cultivate optimism, and engage in deliberate practice.
3. Boldness: Embrace risk-taking, challenge limiting beliefs, and think big.
4. Messaging: Control emotional reactions, use constructive language, and maintain a positive outlook.
5. Decision-making: Use a disciplined, data-driven approach and regularly anticipate industry trends.
6. Goal-focus: Set intrinsically motivating goals, break them down into manageable steps, and combat procrastination.
Imagine a leader who transforms a mundane meeting into an inspiring session with their calm and commanding presence. This leader embodies mental strength, a quality that sets exceptional leaders apart. The book explores how to become a mentally strong leader by managing emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs to achieve outstanding outcomes even in challenging circumstances.
Mental strength is the ability to maintain self-discipline and focus to overcome challenges. It involves effective management of emotions and thoughts, resilience in adversity, and a calm demeanor under pressure. Mental strength is demonstrated through six key tests: fortitude, confidence, boldness, messaging, decision-making, and goal-focus.
Fortitude involves self-determination and perseverance through challenges. Leaders with fortitude reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth. For example, Sharon, a business leader, faced a significant challenge when a major retail customer threatened to drop her company's product. Instead of seeing this as a defeat, she viewed it as an opportunity to build stronger partnerships with other retailers, ultimately leading to long-term success.
Confidence is essential for overcoming insecurities and leading effectively. Maya, a nonprofit project leader, transformed her self-doubt into a driving force for success. By embracing her doubts, focusing on her skills, and not comparing herself to others, she successfully managed a monumental project. Leaders can build confidence by handling criticism constructively, cultivating optimism, and engaging in deliberate practice to refine specific aspects of their work.
Boldness involves encouraging risk-taking and expansive thinking. Kurt, a school administrator, faced skepticism when proposing a new initiative to transform teacher-parent interactions. Despite initial resistance, his bold vision and perseverance led to the successful adoption of his approach. Leaders should allow themselves to dream big, challenge limiting beliefs, and replace them with empowering ones to achieve transformative outcomes.
Messaging affects how leaders influence their teams' perceptions and motivations. Charlotte, who faced unexpected rejection of her proposal, maintained her composure, listened to feedback, and refined her proposal. Leaders should control their emotional reactions, use constructive language, and maintain a positive outlook to foster an inclusive and supportive environment.
Decision-making requires a disciplined, data-driven approach. Vijay, a CEO, set aside personal biases and embraced a structured approach to a crucial business transition. Leaders can improve decision-making by clarifying roles, involving the right people, and using data and expert advice. Regularly understanding industry trends and engaging in scenario planning can enhance predictive abilities and prevent reactive decisions.
Goal-focus involves maintaining a clear vision and disciplined action towards objectives. Javier, a sales leader, kept his team focused on an ambitious goal despite numerous obstacles. Leaders should set intrinsically motivating goals, break them down into manageable steps, visualize success, and combat procrastination. This helps maintain focus, build momentum, and achieve significant results.
The journey to becoming a mentally strong leader involves cultivating habits that regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. By developing fortitude, confidence, boldness, effective messaging, decision-making clarity, and goal-focus, leaders can handle challenges with grace and achieve consistent, exceptional results. Building these habits transforms challenges into opportunities for growth, leading to a more effective and inspiring leadership style.
July 4, 2024
Explores what it means to be not just an average leader but a mentally strong leader. It seemed pretty surface-level generic knowledge to me, sorry. This felt like a lead magnet for a keynote speaker, which it kind of is.
Notes:
- This ability to rebound after near success encapsulates what it means to be a mentally strong leader.
- Mental strength is demonstrated through six key tests: fortitude, confidence, boldness, messaging, decision-making and goal-focus
- What new paths could open up? What lessons can you learn from the experience?
- When handling criticism, assess its relevance by considering the source / intention behind it
- Engage in deliberate practice. This isn't just ordinary practice; it involves incrementally refining specific aspects of your work. Say you are due to give a presentation – break it down into smaller components such as the beginning, the end, and the transition points. Focus your practice sessions on those key points, make your improvements and build them into your full presentation.
- To think big, start by allowing yourself to envision greater possibilities. Ask yourself what you could achieve if you weren’t limited by your beliefs or the stories you’ve been told. Challenge the assumptions that hold you back and replace them with empowering beliefs that propel you forward.
- What are the big dreams you’ve been hesitant to chase, and what’s stopping you?
- One key habit you could adopt is to clarify the ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘how’ of your decisions. Determine who should be involved in the decision-making process; what the decision entails; and how the decision will be reached, whether through data, expert advice, or testing.
- Cascading goal system: Start by identifying why the goal matters – what’s the bigger purpose behind it? Then break down this purpose into major goals and further into smaller, actionable micro-goals. This makes the tasks more manageable and gives you space to celebrate small wins, which will boost your confidence and keep you focused.
Notes:
- This ability to rebound after near success encapsulates what it means to be a mentally strong leader.
- Mental strength is demonstrated through six key tests: fortitude, confidence, boldness, messaging, decision-making and goal-focus
- What new paths could open up? What lessons can you learn from the experience?
- When handling criticism, assess its relevance by considering the source / intention behind it
- Engage in deliberate practice. This isn't just ordinary practice; it involves incrementally refining specific aspects of your work. Say you are due to give a presentation – break it down into smaller components such as the beginning, the end, and the transition points. Focus your practice sessions on those key points, make your improvements and build them into your full presentation.
- To think big, start by allowing yourself to envision greater possibilities. Ask yourself what you could achieve if you weren’t limited by your beliefs or the stories you’ve been told. Challenge the assumptions that hold you back and replace them with empowering beliefs that propel you forward.
- What are the big dreams you’ve been hesitant to chase, and what’s stopping you?
- One key habit you could adopt is to clarify the ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘how’ of your decisions. Determine who should be involved in the decision-making process; what the decision entails; and how the decision will be reached, whether through data, expert advice, or testing.
- Cascading goal system: Start by identifying why the goal matters – what’s the bigger purpose behind it? Then break down this purpose into major goals and further into smaller, actionable micro-goals. This makes the tasks more manageable and gives you space to celebrate small wins, which will boost your confidence and keep you focused.
July 4, 2024
Summary:
There are six tests of mental strength for leadership. Fortitude, confidence, boldness, effective messaging, decision-making and goal focus. These tests challenge leaders to manage emotions, stay resilient under pressure and drive team success through clear communication and unwavering focus. By developing these qualities through regular practice and self-regulation, you'll be able to handle leadership challenges with grace and ensure consistent, exceptional results. Remember, your journey to becoming a Mentally Strong Leader depends on the habits you cultivate, so start building them now to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
There are six tests of mental strength for leadership. Fortitude, confidence, boldness, effective messaging, decision-making and goal focus. These tests challenge leaders to manage emotions, stay resilient under pressure and drive team success through clear communication and unwavering focus. By developing these qualities through regular practice and self-regulation, you'll be able to handle leadership challenges with grace and ensure consistent, exceptional results. Remember, your journey to becoming a Mentally Strong Leader depends on the habits you cultivate, so start building them now to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
August 1, 2026
This book by Scott Mautz is absolutely LOADED with tools to help new leaders. I think it is best used as a reference guide when you are having a specific problem, as it’s a bit dense to read through. Mautz’s P&G background definitely shows, as he turns everything into a step-by-step guide complete with some sort of chart. I found the “Diamond Directive,” “CALM,” and positivity plus tools most helpful.
Would be great for the newly promoted or those struggling with leadership.
Would be great for the newly promoted or those struggling with leadership.
July 8, 2024
Scott’s books always seem to arrive just when I need them. The Mentally Strong Leader is packed with mind-opening insights and practical action steps. I’ve bookmarked mentally strong habits that I’m applying in my life, which I’ll return to soon and often.
June 3, 2026
DNF 42%
June 3, 2024
Concise, upbeat, practical guide to building confidence, decisiveness, resiliency, etc. Well-written and organized. One of the better examples in a crowded field.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews