Uncertainty is all around us in our Covid-affected world.
Things we used to think of as unmoving have shifted, such as the distinction between home and work, our freedom, and safety.
We now live with daily uncertainty and have done since the start of the pandemic. It is hard to overstate just how much of an effect this is having on our mindsets, psyche, and ability to function and be productive.
Here at Zestfor, we are continually exploring the factors that make us resilient in uncertain times.
When we started exploring what people had learned about themselves during the pandemic, we kept finding the same answers – people had realised the potential of their resilience.
Resilience is something we teach throughout our programmes.
Our training framework covers eight separate components of what it means to be resilient.
For those of you who want to understand more about developing your resilience, we will look at two specific aspects today – acceptance and the ability to improvise solutions.
It is a common misconception that resilient individuals never suffer from difficulties or adversity; the reality is that they are better equipped to deal with these challenges. First, let’s look at acceptance and why this is an essential skill to master to deal with uncertainty.
Discovering Acceptance
The ability to see reality through an objective lens and accept it is a rare and powerful skill. Many people apply their own subjective beliefs to any given situation, which keeps them stuck in their current position, unable to move forward.
When we face challenges, such as the Covid pandemic, those with high acceptance levels find it easier to deal with the problems they face – let’s look at some examples.
Consider an HR manager who is currently working from home due to government guidelines. She has two young children at home and shares the responsibility of childcare duties with her partner. She finds working from home distracting and is continually getting frustrated and looking forward to being back in the office. A recurring thought she has is “I wish things were back the way they were before Covid – why is this happening to me?”
This negative feeling that she attaches to her situation will perpetuate her distraction and adds to the difficulty of both her role and childcare duties.
Next, let’s think about an account manager, also remotely working and homeschooling her children. She spent a day or two adapting to her new circumstances and working out what was possible for her, how she could realistically juggle her responsibilities.
She also finds her current set-up less than ideal, but early on, she accepted the fact that this is an unchangeable situation. Her optimistic outlook allows her to see the positive in her position – it won’t be like this forever, but she must ‘make do’ while it is.
Although these two individuals are in similar circumstances, one will struggle far more than the other to cope, stay positive and focused.
For one, constant negative feelings will make her daily tasks seem arduous, and family life will feel strained.
The other will breeze through with the confidence that she is doing all she can, and that there are certain things out of her control that she will not allow to bring her down.
How to Practice Acceptance
Do you often find yourself wishing things were different? Have you felt frustrated at your current situation, even though you know it isn’t forever?
You can start practising acceptance by using the following ideas:
- Stop judging scenarios as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – try to see them for what they are.
- Always be aware and acknowledge what is happening around you – don’t ‘stick your head in the sand’ when problems arise.
- Stay positive – positivity is a trait that you can learn; try journaling three things every day that make you feel positive. Over time you will start to notice positivity out of habit.
Next, let’s look at the importance of improvising solutions with the tools you have available.
The Ability to Improvise Solutions
Whatever we do, an essential part of our work is the tools we require. This could be physical devices such as technology, something less tangible like a support network of colleagues, or an inspiring and competent and compassionate leader.
What happens when you no longer have access to the resources you are accustomed to and are expected to deliver the same standard of work? The shift to working from home raised this question on a mass scale, and the results have been different for everyone.
The individuals I have worked with since the pandemic state that success depended on their ability to improvise. And this is a skill that many of us don’t realise we have inside us until we are forced to take action.
In “How Creativity Can Make You More Resilient,” Brene Brown describes the power of improvisation: “Creativity is the ultimate integration tool. And the best part is that it’s built–in. In other words, we all have the power to create. And it’s in the act of doing and making a thing that you go from knowing a thing to living it.”
Learning to create and devise solutions strengthens our resilience muscle. Improvisation engages parts of our brain that usually lie dormant; it makes us think on our feet and allows us to organise and deliver under stress.
Take a moment to think about everything that you and your team have overcome in the past year; the way you worked around unique problems, the employees that stepped up into unfamiliar roles, working around the chaos that was unfolding across the world. Recognising this ability will allow you to appreciate the challenges you have overcome, and the strength and new skills your team have gained in the face of adversity.
Finally
Resilience is a core characteristic of all successful teams. Many leaders now realise how essential this skill is and are exploring ways to build it.
We have worked on the topic of resilience for years, and the pandemic has been the catalyst for our development programmes to come to the rescue of our clients.
If you would like to know more about building resilience in your team, read about our training programmes here. Alternatively head to our blog, where you will find more articles on key leadership topics.
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.
