“She’ll Be Right”

Happy Thursday,

Ever been told not to worry about it or just get on with it when things got tough? That’s the spirit of “she’ll be right” – woven into the fabric of Aussie and Kiwi culture. A legacy etched in history through the perseverance and resilience of our ANZACs at Gallipoli. But over time, the phrase took on a darker edge, often misused to brush off real issues. As ANZAC Day approaches, I’ve been wondering: what might we have lost along the way? Let’s dive in.

🧠 LEARN something.

At its core, the “she’ll be right” mindset reflects a quiet, determined optimism and a belief that “we got this” and that things will be ok with time, effort, a cool head, and a steady hand. It was a strength that helped a whole generation stay calm, keep perspective, and carry on through war and uncertainty. But the strength got overplayed, misused, and misunderstood. “She’ll be right,” which once meant “we’ve got this,” somehow became “let’s pretend it’s fine.” This often led to avoidance (especially among men), where real issues around health and mental wellbeing were minimised, which contributed to rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. In leadership and business, the same mindset started to create a culture of complacency, apathy, and a weak competitive edge in global markets. As a result and for good reasons, the “she’ll be right” sentiment was strongly campaigned against over the past few decades.

But in rejecting the unhelpful parts, have we gone too far? A strength misused is still a strength. Yes, “she’ll be right” can lead to passivity, but it also brings a calm under pressure and a grounded perspective that setbacks aren’t the end of the world. I’ll say it straight – that mindset’s in short supply among many leaders today, as we’re seeing more avoidance, risk aversion, and a lack of resilience and grit when faced with pressure and uncertainty. Fewer people seem able to hold their nerve and persevere, instead choosing to look for an “exit from discomfort” or quick fix. Also, let’s not forget, the Anzac spirit wasn’t just about resilience, but also mateship – to have each other’s back and get through the tough times together. Sure, “she’ll be right” got overplayed and misused, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

🤔 REFLECT on an idea.

You’ll always get opinions about what’s right and wrong, how to think, how to act, how to lead – until you are overwhelmed with advice. But leadership (and life) isn’t lived in black and white. It’s lived in the grey areas – in the nuance, the in-between. Like any mindset or ideology, “she’ll be right” isn’t good or bad. It just has its strengths and flaws. Take what’s useful. Play to its strengths.

😊 SMILE a little.

ANZACs: Faced constant shelling and enemy fire — and kept going.
Today: Need to talk to HR because they didn’t like someone’s tone on a Zoom call. 😂

✅ DO IT to get results.

Resist the urge to “exit from discomfort” too quickly. Next time you are in a tough spot — pressure, conflict, uncertainty, etc — resist the urge to smooth it over, brush past it or put a positive spin on it. Instead, acknowledge the internal tension, pause in the present moment and ask yourself: Am I doing this to avoid discomfort, or am I doing this because it’s the right thing for business and the team?

🎁 Just for Subscribers.

The ability to give and receive feedback is one of the most important parts of team communication; yet many teams struggle with it. In fact, feedback is one of the most common topics we train on, here at The Bridge. So this month for subscribers, we’re offering a special 2-hour power learning workshop called “Feedback for Performance,” jam-packed with the key takeaways from our longer courses. A great option if your training budget is tight rigth now! Just reply with ‘Feedback’ to find out more.

In the workshop, we’ll cover:

• 3x reasons why feedback is essential for team performance

• 3x feedback models you can use right away

• 3x actions to make feedback part of your team culture

🌱 How we can support you.

We provide strategic leadership solutions tailored to align with your business strategy, size, and budget. We can support your with:

• 1:1 Leadership and Performance Coaching

• Team Coaching, for high performing teams

• 1:1 Health & Lifestyle Coaching for busy stressed leaders.

• Workshops, offsites and team development.

• Or our flagship individual Leadership Coaching Programs.

Kia pai tō wiki

Kenny Bhosale

CEO & Founder, The Bridge Leaders