While there is some talk of recovery there are still lots of economic traps ahead.  Success in today’s workplace is not only about your level of skill and competence; it’s about how quickly you can recover from setbacks and learn from mistakes . . .

It’s about developing resilience.

More businesses fail as an economy comes out of recession than during its peak because they are stripped to the bone and don’t have the resources or skills to cope with growth or unexpected challenges.  On a personal level, how well do you bounce back from setbacks?  How well prepared are you for the next inevitable challenge? 

I’ve always been curious about why some people seem to have more resilience than others.  There are many stories of highly successful people who have overcome massive setbacks.  It is always easy to say that they got a lucky break, but they had the mind-set to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and most of them created opportunities by being relentless in the pursuit of their goals.   

It is a fact that all successful managers, directors and entrepreneurs are very resilient.  They have the capacity to take risks, face challenges with courage and no matter what happens they get up again if they fall over. 

Learning Resilience

There are many factors at play when it comes to resilience and the latest research is showing that it is something that can be learned and developed – it’s not just something you are born with or without.  The more you put yourself into situations that require resilience, the more you develop the ability to bounce back.  By practicing resilience you strengthen your ability to cope with adversity, surprises and the challenges that life will throw at you.  How good are you at challenging yourself beyond your comfort zone?  How easily do you confront the ‘difficult conversations’ at work like addressing underperformance or inappropriate behaviour?  How willing are you to make that sales call or ask for new business? 

Psychologists are now promoting resilience as a key life skill because without it you are more susceptible to anxiety, stress and depression which can damage your immune system and leave you exposed to illness and disease.

Here are some of the top tips for developing resilience:

• Be clear about your purpose and the outcomes you want to achieve: Do you have clear goals?  If not, consider taking some time to think about what is most important to you and write it down.  Are you clear about the purpose of your job and the outcomes you will be measured on?  If not, discuss them with your boss.

• Stay focussed on solutions rather than the problems:  Problems are an inevitable part of life and work.  However, rather than focussing on them seek solutions by exploring what can be done rather than what can’t be done.

• Maintain a broad perspective: Don’t dwell on the details of a setback, look at the bigger picture over the longer term and see how you can learn from the experience and avoid it or build in contingencies in the future.

• Be flexible in your approach and explore alternatives: Life never goes exactly to plan and if we expect it to we will only be disappointed. It’s also important to recognise the things you cannot change and move on, so you can use your energy on the things you can change.  If what you are doing isn’t getting the results you want, do something different!

• Look after your mental, emotional and physical health: Eat healthy food, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Find ways to become more Mindful: explore meditation, breathing and deep relaxation exercises (for more on this click here).  Discuss major setbacks with trusted friends so you can get it out of your system and put things into perspective.

• Build and maintain a strong social network:  Ask for help when you need it and give help to others when they need it.  You probably have many more resources available to you than you think – utilise them!   It is important to lend a helping hand to others who may need it because it strengthens relationships.  It also means you will be more likely to ask for help when you need it, giving others the opportunity to support you.

• Become an enthusiastic learner:  See setbacks as lessons that can make you wiser and even more effective in the future.  The key is to continuously step out of your Comfort Zone and into the Learning Zone (without stumbling into the Fear Zone which lies just beyond it).  Taking little steps into the Learning Zone expands it so we increase our skills, ability and influence a little more every day.

• Be proactive: Don’t wait for life to happen to you, engage fully and be willing to step up and make a difference.  Procrastination eats away your confidence and leaves you in the passenger seat, being driven around by others.  

• Use positive confrontation: Don’t avoid conflict – look for constructive ways to address the difficult issues.  Remind yourself of your purpose and your goals to help you clarify what you want and how confronting the difficult issues with a solution oriented mind-set will help you achieve them.

• Acknowledge your strengths: Keep in mind what others respect, like and appreciate about you.  Develop a list of the positive feedback you have received and remind yourself about it when you have a setback.

As the economy becomes more complex and our work can be seriously disrupted by something that happens on another continent, we need to practice the skill of dealing with surprises, sudden jolts and continuous rapid change. 

This means considering how well we are doing with the tips above and exploring ways of enhancing them before we are put in a position where they are tested to the limit.   Resilience comes from taking positive actions that are aligned to your values and move you closer to your goals; it comes from making a positive contribution to others and making the world a better place.   

Change and uncertainty are the new norm for the 21st Century, resilience is the crucial new skill that underpins success, what are you doing to develop it?

Remember . . . stay curious!

With warm regards
David