4 Keys to Building Resilience
Resilience training is a key skill for growing as a leader. When we talk about resiliency, we refer to the ability to bounce back from a difficult situation. So, if this skill is developed within your team, they will know how to come back stronger, leaner, and more focused after facing adversity, and it is a fact that in life just as in the business world, adversity and change are inevitable.
This is why resilience at work is a crucial leadership skill. If trained, you can always be one step ahead of change and your competition, knowing that your team will be prepared for anything that might come up as an obstacle. And, the good news is that whether we realize it or not, we all have it within us and we have the capability of potentiating it and becoming more and more resilient with time.
So today I’m going to share with you four methods that you can use to build resilience so that your team is always ready to face challenge.
4 keys to Building Resilience
Locus of Control
When considering how to face adversity Lucy Hone, co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience, says to ask yourself: “Is this harming you or helping you?”
When tragedy hits (and it will), in order to be resilient, focus on your locus of control. What can you do about the situation at hand? Consider this subtle, yet pivotal, scene in Bridge of Spies:
“Do you never worry?”
“Would it help?”
In order to build resilience, direct your energy on the things you actually have control over. If you think about what you and your team can do and the positive outcomes it can cause, you can laser-focus your power and turn the situation around. A simple perspective change will help you to be grateful for whatever measure of power you still have about what is happening — even if it’s just the ability to accept the inevitable and move on.
Ask “future you” what “today you” can do
You cannot alter the past, and you cannot see the future. The only moment you have power over is the present. In order to build resilience, instead of thinking about the things you should have done yesterday, think about what can be done today. Even if it won’t completely solve your problem, focus on how to make today easier and better. By focusing on your present, you can begin to become more resilient.
Resilient leaders are able to plan, while also remaining in the moment. Ask yourself, how can you influence a negative situation in the short, medium, and long terms, today? What steps are within the power of “today’s you”? Focus on doing that and feel the relief when you’re finally out of the vicious circle of problem —> panic —> problem+panic —> bigger problem, etc.
Remember, resilience and thinking in the moment doesn’t happen overnight. Start with small, measurable steps. It doesn’t matter if you can only do a small thing now, like leaving something ready for you in the morning (like a tidy desk, a glass of water in your bedside table, or drafting an email that you feared sending). It will help, and it’s especially lovely when you forget you did it, and rediscover the presents from “past you.”
Call on your support network
Building resilience doesn’t mean you have to depend only on yourself, all the time. One of the most soothing sentences you can hear when there’s trouble is “you’re not alone.” Feelings of isolation and loneliness can compound a problem and make it seem insurmountable. But remember, “no man is an island”: Your relationships with coworkers, family, friends, and your local community will help you build resilience, give you hope in the future and also show you where your talents are appreciated and needed. Make sure you are also present for your network when they need help from you — it’s only fair that you help as soon as you possibly can.
Change your perspective
Another way to build resilience to change your perspective. When faced with a daunting situation or challenging circumstance, take a pause and actively try to change your outlook. In some situations, you just need to give yourself time: take a break, meditate, even just get lost in a shower, walk your dog, or have a long cuddle session with your cat. Often times, when you return to your work you’ll feel re-energized and ready to take on the problem.
In order to build resilience, allow yourself the time to figure out how to solve your problems. Changing your mindset can often times give you an enlightening perspective. Resilient leaders understand that sometimes an attitude adjustment is all that’s needed to solve a difficult problem.
I hope that with these four tools you’ll begin to build resilience in your life. Building resilience is a skill that will aid you throughout your lifetime as it will help you to be ready to face any obstacle that might come in your way. Plus, it is a skill that will help you a lot in your professional career, as it will help you to be more focused on what really matters and therefore, achieve your goals faster.
