Page 6 - inPRINT Issue 63

inDEPTH

Personal resilience can have a big effect on
the resilience of a business as a whole

business

HOW TO BE MORE

RESILIENT

he ancient Greek Luckily, resilience isn’t
Tphilosopher Heraclitus thought to be something
was right – the only constant we’re born with or without.
in life is change. Perhaps It can be strengthened and
nowhere has that been more improved with conscious
apt than in the modern effort and experience. It can
workplace over the last five develop and grow as we
years. The EU referendum, respond to stressful, high-
Brexit preparations, three pressure and impactful
elections, then COVID-19 has events.
made sure that uncertainty So how can you be more
is no longer a temporary resilient at work, and
blip, but the new status quo. encourage others to be the
So how do some people same?
seem to ride the wave of events and situations – than trying to get from A
uncertainty, remain calm 1) The first step to being after all, this won’t be the to B in a single leap which
and stress-free, and perhaps more resilient is to first challenge or setback may possibly result in
even make a success of the acknowledge and accept you’ve experienced at failure.
situation, while the rest of that some events are work. The solutions might
us struggle to bounce back inevitably beyond your not be the same this time, 5) Use your support
and carry on in the face of control. but it might generate network.
adversity? Resisting change is often the confidence to move Our personal resilience
The people who seem to futile and can drain your forward. is bolstered when we
thrive, no matter what, are energy in the process. are supported by others
often full to the brim of a But you may be able to 3) Act now. – a problem shared is
personal quality known as adapt in order to overcome When we’re not behaving a problem halved. Your
resilience. They are adept at obstacles. Keep things in resiliently, we often avoid friends, family and
effectively handling difficult perspective – when life a problem and hope it will colleagues can also help
experiences, regulating goes pear-shaped it's easy go away, but of course this keep things in perspective,
their thoughts and emotions to default to an overly rarely works. Adopting a so nurture a support
and viewing challenges as negative response. Make a practical approach, getting network in the good times
opportunities rather than realistic assessment of the things moving, will help because they’ll be vital in
threats. impact. How will it look in restore a sense of control. the bad times.
Whether you’re an a year’s time? Once our response feels
employer or employee, under control, we’re far How resilient are you?
personal resilience can have 2) Know your personal better placed to tackle the Find out with a
a big effect on the resilience strengths and past problem effectively. fun Resilience Quiz at
of a business as a whole. experiences. www.mindtools.com/pages/
Earlier this year, insurance Self-belief is fundamental 4) Favour small steps article/resilience-quiz.htm
giant Aviva surveyed 1000 to developing resilience over a giant leap.
businesses and found that against life’s unexpected Adapting to and For further information,
the workforce’s personal knocks. Have faith in your coping with difficult please contact Carys Davis,
resilience was one of six key own abilities to deal with circumstances is often Public Affairs Adviser, at
factors that impacted how and overcome challenges. best achieved by setting [email protected]
well the business prepared Similarly, draw upon your small, realistic and
for and adapted to change. experiences of comparable achievable goals rather

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