Here’s The Right Way To Look At Resilience

Yesterday I could hear kids in the background during my telephone conversation with a managing director working remotely from home.

While his kids were probably vying for his attention, I believe with absolute sincerity that this individual’s focus was to unravel my concern. I immediately recognized how purpose-driven and committed he was. Not once did he apologize for the subtle background interruptions. And it didn’t bother me either. He was doing his job at all costs.

Even with a few glitches in technology, an hour after the conversation began, my concern was pleasantly resolved and his goal was achieved.

Was it Resilience in Real-time? 

After thinking about this experience, it occurred to me the spirited and flexible manner in which this person performed his work. In my mind, he showed his resilience in real-time. We know from its common definition resilience is to bounce or spring back into shape from adversity. Is this a good definition? When we bounce back, nothing has changed. We haven’t progressed.

During these uncertain and fluid times, the need for poised, progressive, committed, and unrestrained leadership is more important than ever. A better description then for resilience, especially within this context, is to bounce or spring forward—doing whatever is needed to advance. And that’s my characterization of the individual on the call.

CEOs have largely the responsibility to quickly fulfill their potential despite, and even because of, adversity; and recognize challenges as opportunities for growth and renewal. Bouncing or springing forward is the awareness mindset to make this happen.

Those Not Quite There Yet

Leaders are equally responsible for having a good sense of their team’s resilience hitches. Plain and simple, check in on them and ask how they’re adjusting. Remember, like you, they have family commitments and other things going on as well. Working remotely undoubtedly will test your employees’ ability to focus, especially if they have little ones running around. Ask if there’s any concern regarding working from home? What do they need? And do offer your help.

The pathway to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress.

For those who aren’t quite there yet, brain science shows that your body, brain and emotions are intricately linked. By adjusting how you think or carry your body, you can change how you feel. With this you can practice resilience through any approach that helps you to daily upturn your positive emotions or dispute negative thoughts. Positive emotions clear the way for your brain to provide the fuel needed to focus and think clearly. And by shifting negative emotions you expand your ability to bounce forward.

Bouncing forward involves thoughts, behaviors and actions that anyone can learn and develop. Putting it into practice, you can develop it like a muscle, as it needs to be worked in order to get stronger. Grounded in proven research, here’s what it looks like:

Develop optimism and confidence. This will require you to visualize your future self after overcoming a personal challenge. The imagination is a powerful tool.

• Step 1: Describe what you are experiencing right now and list what makes this situation difficult for you.
• Step 2: Visualize your best possible resilient self. Imagine yourself bouncing forward, successfully moving through each aspect of your challenging situation. Close your eyes with this self-image in mind and take five minutes to contemplate your most resilient self.
• Step 3: Describe how you’re bouncing forward. Describe the person you saw in your mind—your most resilient self. What did you look like? How were you acting or behaving? How were you feeling? What were you thinking? Take 10 minutes to write about the person you visualized.

Manage your changing energy levels. This will require you to become aware of your changing energy levels throughout the day and develop strategies to replenish energy when reserves are low.

• Step 1: Track your energy levels. Create a log and track your energy levels throughout an entire day. Note what you are doing at hourly intervals from 7 am until 10 pm using the following scale to measure your energy levels: 1-2: very low; 3-4: low; 5-6: neutral; 7-8: high; 9-10: very high.
• Step 2: Evaluate your energy levels patterns. At what times was your energy high? At what times was your energy low? What patterns can you observe about the activities associated with high energy? What patterns can you observe about the activities linked to low energy?
• Step 3: Replenish your energy resources. Energy can be managed physically by building endurance and fitness; mentally by cultivating focus and attention; emotionally by cultivating excitement and connection; and spiritually by cultivating presence. Observing what you are doing when your energy is high during your day can help you to come up with possible energy-boosting actions when at your lowest.

Remote working may once have been considered a perk, but the current pandemic has made it a requirement. Despite the bumps that can occur, it will take a bounce-forward attitude to resolve them for the good of teams and the company as a whole – having the right view of resilience.

Written by Dr. Deana Murphy. Have you read?
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