Resilience is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress”. In other words, it is your bounce-back ability. That capacity to be present in a situation, recognize the triggers, identify what is required, and develop and execute the positive actions necessary to move forward.
Enhancing our personal resilience is one means by which we, as individuals, can build the resources necessary to adapt and ‘bounce back’ quickly.
Resilience is an emotional muscle that must be strengthened to overcome short-term struggles and maintained to offset a lifetime of challenges. Even though building resilience may not always be the most pleasurable activity, it is something that can pay dividends when cultivated and maintained with intention. It can also be easier said than done: While many of us believe that we are highly mentally and emotionally resilient, data shows we may be overestimating our own resilience to stressful events.
Resilience is often defined as the ability to “bounce back” after adversity, but when it comes to toxic stress in times of crisis, a more forward-looking definition may serve us better. In building resilience, then, leaders may find it more effective to aim for developing within their teams the ability to bounce forward and exist in stability on the other side of adversity, or in the period known as adaptation, and beyond.
The essence of resilient leadership
Deloittee Insights on Combating COVID-19 with resilience
In today’s world it is not only individuals, but organizations, and even society on whole which has to be resilient. A World Economic Forum report points out an interesting way- “To build a resilient world, we must go circular.” Deloittee Insights analyzes in depth How crisis leadership with a human focus can support business resilience
Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.
Angela Duckworth
A Report by KPMG in partenership with Forbes Insights Agile Or Irrelevant: Redefining Resilience contains lots of substance on developing resilience with agility.
Check on few more articles related to resilience
- Resilience is the key to success in any field
- The emerging resilients: Achieving ‘escape velocity’
- Beyond reskilling-Investing in resilience for uncertain future
- Six problem-solving mindsets for very uncertain times
Good Books on resilience
- Man’s search for meaning- Viktor Franklin
- Authentic Happiness, Martin Seligman
- As a Man Thinketh, James Allen