A lot more attention is being given to Resilience these days. The impact of Covid-19 has largely been responsible for this surge in interest. Small business shutdowns, the greatly overworked numbers of healthcare workers, increases in unemployment, housing and food insecurity, students of all ages required to study remotely, and the worry of contracting Covid-19 have created stress in people and organizations at levels we haven\u2019t experienced in recent history. Research shows nearly 67% of adults report higher stress levels since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The over-riding concern is how to effectively deal with all of this stress, hence the focus on Resilience as a way to respond to and lower the effect of Covid-19-related stress.<\/p>\n
The root meaning of Resilience is to \u201cbounce back.\u201d Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. Demonstrating resilience during a very challenging times allows you to \u201cbounce back\u201d from that difficult experience, not only surviving but stronger and in better condition to deal with the next challenge. Actually, it\u2019s more than bouncing back. It\u2019s bouncing forward with greater resilience \u2013 like throwing a tennis ball down the sidewalk instead of against a wall.
\nApplying resilience to organizations, it\u2019s the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions in order to survive and prosper.<\/p>\n
Researchers have found that those employees with higher levels of resilience (compared to those with lower levels):<\/p>\n
\u2022 Experience less stress.
\n\u2022 Are less likely to be absent from work.
\n\u2022 Are less likely to quit their current job.
\n\u2022 Are much more satisfied with their current job.
\n\u2022 Are much healthier and less likely to require a hospital stay in the last year.<\/p>\n
As a result, organizations with higher levels of resilience have employees who experience less stress, are more engaged, see an increase in production, and experience positive financial outcomes.
\nAnd, the good news is that resilience is a learned ability and can be developed both individually and in your organization. So, what can we do to accomplish that important goal?<\/p>\n
First, having a positive mindset is foundational to developing resilience. My dear friend, Frances Hesselbein, was once asked what made her such an effective servant leader. She responded, \u201cMy blood type\u2013B-positive.\u201d Having a positive, \u201cthe glass is half-full\u201d mindset goes a long way in leading the way through serious life challenges.<\/p>\n
Here are some suggestions you can try to develop a more positive outlook:<\/p>\n
1. Deal with negative emotions. Don\u2019t let them build up. Find ways of relieving those negative vibes\u2014take a walk, ride a bike, go to the gym, or hit a punching bag\u2014whatever works for you, do it.<\/p>\n
2. Find positive people. Once you identify who they are, spend time with them. Their influence can have a positive affect on you. As for the negative nay-sayers, avoid them if you can. Don\u2019t let them drag you down.<\/p>\n
3. Adopt a \u201cthere something good here\u201d in everyday situations, no matter how bad they may seem. Stop for a minute and \u201cturn lemons into lemonade,\u201d as the saying goes. Few days are without their challenges or barriers that stand in the way of what you want to accomplish. You\u2019ll be surprised what a difference this approach can make when your frame issues in this way.<\/p>\n
4. Focus on strengths. What are you good at and what do you really like to do? Too often, we tend to put too much emphasis and spend unnecessary energy on our weaknesses\u2014thinking about how they hold us back and whether we can find ways to overcome them. Instead, find ways of strengthening your strengths\u2014the knowledge, skills, and abilities you have and want to get better at expressing and utilizing. That\u2019s a more positive approach.<\/p>\n
5. Be grateful for what you have. Say thank you to those who have been helpful. Expressing gratitude on a regular basis is what many believe to be the most important attitude and action in developing a happy, positive mindset.<\/p>\n
6. Begin and end the day with a positive statement to yourself. Frances Hesselbein told me when she awakens, she commits herself to having a positive effect on someone during the day. And then before going to sleep that night, she reflects on who she served in that way. What a great practice that is. It sets a tone for the day, and then prepares her the next one.<\/p>\n
7. Get rid of negative self-talk. If you can\u2019t eradicate it, then at least limit it. You know what that is: that inner voice that tells you, You\u2019re not good at this or This is going to turn out badly. We all have a negative inner voice. We need to \u201ccall it out\u201d and intentionally replace those thoughts with positive self-talk. Yes, this did not turn out well, but I learned from it and the next time I will make it work. That\u2019s replacing the negative with positive self-talk. Know when the negative self-talk is there and don\u2019t let it take over. If it does, you cannot avoid acting negatively.l><\/p>\n
As you work on the strategies to create a more positive mindset, begin practicing some of these behaviors and habits:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tAccept change as part of your life-try to keep issues in perspective.
\n\u2022\tDevelop a trusting, helpful social network that can support you.
\n\u2022\tTake care of yourself\u2014physically and mentally.
\n\u2022\tFind your purpose in life\u2014engage in activities that have real meaning for you.
\n\u2022\tPractice compassion, self-compassion, and forgiveness.<\/p>\n
Next, author Rich Fernandez recommends five practices that can increase resilience among individuals and organizations. These include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPracticing mindfulness\u2014being aware of events and experiences as they occur.
\n\u2022\tCompartmentalizing work during the day\u2014focusing on one particular task or assignment at a time, as opposed to multitasking.
\n\u2022\tTaking short breaks every hour and a half to two hours\u2014stepping away from the task at hand to mentally refresh.
\n\u2022\tDeveloping the ability to respond not just react to difficult situations or people\u2014the ability to pause, step back, reflect, shift perspectives, create options, and choose wisely.
\n\u2022\tCultivating compassion\u2014both self-compassion and compassion for others.<\/p>\n
Throughout this process, take time to REFLECT on what is happening to you. What are you feeling? Are your assumptions changing about how you deal with the challenges you face? Are you beginning to own these new behaviors and activities as your default? Be sure to find those with those whom you can talk regarding what you are doing to develop resilience. Consider what can you do with that feedback. Then, repeat this cycle of reflection and feedback.<\/p>\n
One final important point. All this mindset and resilience talk may seem like laundry lists of things to work on\u2014like some type of formula or algorithm. Just walk out the action items in the bullet points and everything will work. I hope you don\u2019t think that way. The practice of developing resilience is personal, very personal. Tough times are tough. They are tough to take, tough to endure and tough to get through. We get bruised, hurt, and are changed forever in the process. Resilience is not just \u201ctoughing it out,\u201d or learning to \u201cgrin and bear it\u201d or \u201cpulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.\u201d Neither is it just \u201cgoing it alone.\u201d Those kinds of attitudes and behaviors lead to surviving, hanging on, or gutting it out. That\u2019s denial and it\u2019s destructive. Doing it the right way\u2013embodying the characteristics and behavior of resilience\u2014is challenging and takes time, but you can do it. We all can do it and, what\u2019s more, we must do it.<\/p>\n
Take care. Happy New Year.<\/p>\n
Jim Dittmar<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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