Many of us hoped that when the lockdown rules were lifted during the summer that it would be the last time we had to endure significant restrictions on our lives. But it is now apparent that we are going to have to accept that continually changing restrictions are going to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable.
To keep going, and not let the negativity of a second lockdown affect our personal and professional lives – yes, it is possible – there are a few mindset changes we can make.
One of these is to practice and grow your ability to be resilient.
The American Psychological Association states,
Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviours, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.
So today, I share some inspiration and ideas on how to build resilience in yourself and your team, but first, let’s look at why being resilient is so important.
The Benefits of Resilience
Researchers Conner and Davidson (2003) found that resilient people share specific characteristics, which include –
- Viewing change as an opportunity
- Commitment
- Patience
- An action-oriented approach
- Tolerance
- Ability to change
- Optimism
The researchers created the Conner-Davidson Resilience scale, a test which measures resilience in an individual, which you can read about in more detail here.
The important thing to note about resilience is that it is not an ability we are born with; we can learn to develop this trait. It has even been likened to learning to play the guitar – more than possible as long as you practise.
And it is more crucial now than ever that your team are at their most resilient for the challenges and uncertainty that lie ahead, especially as we enter into the second lockdown. The ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel and not let the current situation affect us negatively is essential.
So how can you build resilience in yourself and your team? The following are strategies to implement.
Building Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is a key theme in resilience. It is the tool that we have in our arsenal that allows us to keep going when we are faced with challenges, simply because we have the belief that we can.
Individuals with high levels of self-confidence are able to focus on what they can control, during times where others feel that they lack control, and this skill is especially valuable right now.
For people who feel at the mercy of external forces, this can be debilitating and can lead to a low mood, loss of productivity and disengagement.
To combat this, ensure your team are focusing on their strengths. Ask them to write down their top 3 capabilities and then help them to see how these are invaluable to the team; this will build both their confidence and resilience.
Being Adaptable
The ability to adapt, to make the right decisions and to cope during times when things are changing all around us is another core element of being a resilient individual.
This is about having a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset.
- Fixed mindset = belief that you cannot change your thoughts, actions or abilities
- Growth mindset = a belief that you can change and grow in the way you want
Many people with a fixed mindset may not realise that they think and act in this way, and this is a major barrier to resilience. This is a fascinating topic and if you want to read more, download Dr Carol Dweck’s best seller.
It is possible to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset; the following strategies will help:
- Acknowledge and embrace the idea that you are not perfect
- See failure and challenges as an opportunity to learn
- Be open to trying new methods of learning
- Place value in the process, rather than the result.
Staying Positive
We all have our down days, and being resilient is not about never experiencing negative emotions – it’s about responding to them positively when we do.
Having a positive outlook is a choice, and one that we can all make, no matter the situation.
But there are a few changes we can implement to make it easier for ourselves to stay positive when faced with challenges.
Keeping healthy, both physically and mentally, is essential in creating positivity in our lives. While exercise can be more challenging in the winter months, getting outside for a walk or a run even for a short time will boost endorphins and help you feel positive.
Don’t underestimate the impact of being in nature regularly.
Managing our emotions is something we all have the power to do too, which will help you become more resilient. Notice when you are having a negative thought or feeling, and stop it by turning it around, for example:
- “I dislike working from home, I can’t concentrate, and it’s making me stressed.”
Can become
- “I find it more challenging working from home, but many others are in the same position as me, and it isn’t going to be forever.”
Changing our thoughts from negative to positive gets easier the more you practice, and in time it will become the norm for you to shut down negative feelings with ease, increasing your positivity and building your resilience.
Then Finally
We are committed to helping business leaders and their teams become more resilient, and we believe that developing self-reflection, self-observation and self-awareness is the key.
We have several programmes designed to help you achieve this including a 2-hour Resilience online interactive workshop and our Insights Discovery programme.
For more information about our programmes which will help you and your team become more resilient, call us on 0845 458 0833.
Until next time,
Julia
About Zestfor
Zestfor specialises in developing Training programmes and resources scientifically tailored for technical markets – including Pharmaceutical, IT, and Life Sciences.
Our blend of in-classroom, online, and virtual live-stream delivery methods will engage and assure even the most introverted team members from the first meeting – whether face-to-face or virtually. To have a brief chat, call us on 0845 548 0833. Alternatively, please email our team here.
