How Resilient Are You?

Resilience can be defined as your ability to recover quickly and positively from setbacks, adapt well to change and keep going in the face of adversity. Research has shown that a person's level of resilience is a key determining factor in both personal and business success. It also determines how you react and behave when faced with stressful situations and periods of significant change.

So how can we become more resilient? Here are some tips and ideas that can increase your level of resilience:

Focus on what is in your control and accept what cannot be changed. How often do you get distracted worrying about things that are out of your control? Resilient people funnel their energy into what is within their control and they can change, whilst accepting what is outside their control and cannot be changed.

Understand and accept reality. Do you slip into denial as a coping mechanism when things get tough? Understand and accept the reality of the situation you and your business are in, so that you can determine the best action to take to move forward.

Make meaning and seek opportunity in difficult times. What do you do when you are faced with challenging situations? Do you take on a victim mentality? Resilient people seek meaning and opportunity in adversity, believe that the situation will improve and that they can make this happen and take full responsibility for their own life.

Improvise and be creative. When the going gets tough do you apply the same solutions as you always have done? Resilient people don't just do what they have always done, they use a high degree of improvisation and creativity.

Learn from both success and failure. How do you see success and failure? Resilient people see both success and failure as positive learning experiences and as an opportunity to change for the better.

Solve rather than avoid problems. Do you avoid problems, putting them to one side and thinking they will go away? Don't avoid problems and challenges, solve them as they arise and you will increase your level of resilience.

Face your fears and step outside of your comfort zone. Do you always stay within your comfort zone? Resilient people are prepared to step out of their comfort zone and face their fears.

Build a support network. Do you have a support network at work and personally? To increase your resilience build a support network of trusted friends, contacts and people you can rely on when you need support.

Be flexible and adaptive. Do you see change as difficult and disruptive? Resilient people accept change, manage it effectively, deal with it positively and are flexible and adaptive.

Persist when it would be easier to give up. What have you given up on because it is too challenging, too big or you don't know how to do it? Resilience includes persisting when it is would be easier to give up and realising that success is not achieved without a lot of hard work.

Regulate your emotions and behaviour. How do you feel act and behave when you are under pressure? Resilient people keep control of their emotions and stay calm even in adversity.

Look after your health and welfare. Do you keep fit and healthy? Resilient people look after their health and welfare, both mentally and physically, so that they have the strength and reserves to meet the challenges they may face.

Consider your own level of resilience and what action you may want to take to become more resilient. Thinking about resilient people you know and admire may help with this.

You can also read other business and stress management tips articles that may help you be more effective at work or in your business.

Author: Liz Makin
Published: March 2015

Makin It Happen has a range of personal development online courses to purchase, created by Liz Makin, including anxiety management, communication, resilience, soft skills, stress management, time management and coaching. Liz Makin also provides personalised business coaching, business mentoring and stress management services to business owners, directors, managers and professionals.

Please email Liz@makinithappen.co.uk to arrange a FREE consultation session to discuss our business coaching, business mentoring and stress management services for business owners, directors, managers and professionals.