How resilient are you when disruptors sweep in like the winds of war?
We’re all working in a highly volatile environment where without warning the project you’re responsible for is canceled. Or the boss you’ve loved working with is gone. Or your organization is suddenly acquired by a company-eating-machine. Or management announces a restructuring that directly impacts your future. Or any number of other abrupt changes taking place in the blink of an eye.
For all of those scenarios and so many others, an attitude of resilience will have you responding with an optimistic, future-oriented, emotionally stable outlook which leads to you and your career flourishing.
So, it’s no surprise a study reveals most participants put resilience in the top three success factors for their careers with 99.9 percent of respondents considering resilience as important to professional success.
And yet, as essential as resilience is to executives very few receive either training or mentoring on the topic. Were you? If you were, you’re one of a lucky few as only 6 percent of people said their organization provides a lot of support for building and maintaining resilience.
If you’re concerned resilience isn’t your strong suit, don’t be. It isn’t a personality trait some are born with while others not so much rather it is learned and strengthened through experience.
The fundamental question is: "How can you build-up your resiliency muscle?" Research attests that 90 percent of respondents say their well-spring of reserves come from themselves.
Begin by taking on these three tips:
Know Your Stressors: All of us are wired differently so identifying early on your flashpoints of anxiety is crucial, as resilience is pivotal to moving through the crisis with composure. By doing so, you gain not only proven strategies but a whole new level of confidence, which prepares you for the next time you encounter a similar experience.
Healthy Support System: Tap into your friends and confidantes to assist you through troublesome times. Such a response is particularly critical as research reveals a little over 50 percent of participants say their get-up-to—fight-another-day way of thinking emanates from this source. Your cadre of champions isn’t there merely as an emotional support system, but more critically to keep your focus on track. They must be capable of guiding you toward spiraling-up conversations instead of spiraling-down dialogue, which leaves you still mired in turmoil. Ruthlessly, cull from your friendship herd those who will emotionally infect your spirit negativity as well as hold you down when you could be soaring.
Expand A Positive Attitude: It is evaluating your circumstances from a glass-half-full perspective. You can cultivate such a mindset with practiced intentionality. Stop fixating on the problem. Instead, begin concentrating on appreciating the constructive meaning and learning in the midst of the situation. Your focus determines what you draw into your life, so what do you want to encourage more of—being resilient or being stuck?
In the final analysis, resilience is you choosing to optimistically hang-in no matter what you’re facing; trusting you can move through any challenge boldly with hope, and the sure knowledge the sun will be shining soon.
Even better news: resilience is contagious so as you cultivate your muscle, you’re aiding those around you simultaneously!
Picture from BigStockPhoto.com
*https://forbusinessake.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/tough_at_the_top.pdf
*Ibid
*https://hbr.org/2015/01/what-resilience-means-and-why-it-matters?referral=03758&cm_vc=rr_item_page.top_right
https://hbr.org/2015/01/what-resilience-means-and-why-it-matters?referral=03758&cm_vc=rr_item_page.top_right