When we meet with a client to take a ‘brief’ on a vacancy [which means they give us the full low down about what the position requires; skills, company culture, experience] it has become commonplace that on the list of attributes – like about 97% of the time – is ‘resilience’.
So this got me thinking…
Firstly, what it is?
It’s all about how you deal with the stresses and challenges of your working world and the key to staying successful in the role – despite the challenges – is finding ways to bounce back.
- And it’s the ability to problem solve with a calm, confident sense, being able to overcome adversity and the ability to learn from each experience, positive or negative.
There are a number of suggestions on how to develop resilience so for a quick ‘How To Quick Guide’ read on… - Build supportive and positive relationships Assist others in time of need. You will gain the benefit of learning what others need and what you may need during difficult times.
- Develop the skill to make and implement realistic plans.
- Recognise your strengths and abilities!
- Focus on what you can learn. You can’t change what is happening to you, but you can change how you respond.
- Measure and manage your goals. Identify the one thing you can do next to further your goals in a situation.
- Identify what is holding you back. Remove the barriers that create unnecessary stress.
- Engage in a supportive, pleasing, nurturing activity. Though it sounds a bit fluffy, you need to relax during stressful situations.
- Think about ways to exercise greater self-control to manage strong feelings and impulses.
- Meditate and journal. You need to clarify your feelings, reasons for those feelings, and “work it out” to find the best solution. Reflect on what you did in previous situations that are parallel to the current challenge and use the lessons you learned to overcome the challenge at hand.
- Ask others what they did in similar situations. Learn from their trials and challenges.
- And finally, become more flexible.
Flexibility is essential to developing and enriching your resilience. It means keeping your emotions from hijacking your good reason, being able to detach yourself in order to step back and gain perspective.
In short, the greater the resilience, the greater the chances of success in the workplace.
And the better the examples you will be able to call upon when asked about your resilience at interview!
