Resilience in Times of Uncertainty and Change
I’m doing some re-connecting after what’s been a more challenging year personally. Mental health difficulties in our family have meant that’s where I really needed to put my attention. As things, thankfully, are getting better, I have gone from realising how exhausted I was to feeling a bit like the snowdrops here – beginning to emerge again from the earth.
It reminded me of the work @SarahBond and I undertook together on resilience and career success – ‘Tough at the Top?’ Whilst it was a few years ago, the research findings on what drains our resilience at work and the behaviours and habits needed to support resilience are as relevant as ever! The one that stands out to me is the importance of relationships.
In our research, resilience is shown to be about much more than bouncing back from a crisis such as the pandemic. More, it’s the constant change and managing difficult relationships at work that is draining our resilience.
64% of leaders define resilience as the ability to adapt well to change
80% of executives say difficult relationships and organisational politics is the biggest drain on their resilience at work
That’s why the purpose of my work is to help leaders and teams build the relationships they need to Work Better Together and thrive through complexity, uncertainty and change.
If you’re finding that you need to draw on your own resilience right now - or you are supporting someone else to draw on theirs - here are three ways to make sure you have what you need in place.
1. Build relationships with people that matter
It’s been my wonderful friends, family and colleagues (you know who you are!) that have really helped me maintain my resilience over this past year. In our research, resilient leaders make sure they have people inside and outside work they know they can turn to.
Ask yourself: Who do I need around me to support me in different situations?
2. Take an optimistic stance
When times are tough or uncertain, it can be difficult to remain optimistic. But optimism is a common trait of resilient leaders. Being optimistic isn’t only associated with resilient people, but also with people who live longer, are healthier, physically and psychologically, and are more successful. Being optimistic doesn’t mean being naïve or believing that things will always work out as you hope, but that they will work out. Resilient leaders often know this having learnt from difficult times in the past. They also balance challenge and difficulty with a focus on what is working well and what is possible.
Ask yourself: What can I learn from the past and what’s going well right now that helps me remain optimistic about the future?
3. Know yourself
The resilient leaders in our research know themselves well – their strengths, values and vulnerabilities.
This has helped them to navigate tough times by not beating themselves up over failures but learning from them; knowing that their skills and experience mean there are always options open to them (should I stay or should I go?) and drawing on their values and purpose to help them navigate through difficulties rather than being buffeted about by circumstance.
Ask yourself: What are the strengths and values that guide me?
As we celebrate #IWD2023 and #EmbraceEquity, I invite you to think about the diversity of women in your network of relationships and how you’re supporting their resilience, as well as your own, this week and every week.
Please subscribe here to access the full ‘Tough at the Top?’ report.