04 Sep Showing Resilience

Our next discovery along the EQ spectrum is showing resilience. Daniel Goleman, considered one of the pioneers of Emotional Intelligence, shared in an interview about the powerful connection between resilience and EQ. 

“Daniel Goleman provides a new perspective, however, on how emotional intelligence can be a critical factor affecting a person’s resilience during crises. He explains that a person who is self-aware, socially adept, and empathetic will be able to survive and thrive on the other side of a life crisis because they have the social and relational skills to be able to handle unexpected and unfortunate circumstances. They know how to advocate for themselves, to problem solve, and to seek support when they need it the most.”

 

What is Resilience?

The definition of resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions or challenges. For the purpose of this installment in our EQ series, I will refer to resilience in the context of the workplace. 

In more casual terms, resilience is a measure of our “bounce back” time. Resilience in the workplace can span how long  it takes us to recover from a co-worker’s offhand comment to being able to powerfully face a big merger that brings about sweeping organizational changes.

Benefits of Resilience

• A resilient person stores energy for investing in creativity and forward thinking rather than dwelling on things they can’t control.
• Resilience can benefit our working relationships. We have the ability to take things less personally and enjoy a good rapport with teammates.
• Resilience in the workplace is an antidote for burnout. People that are able to be agile and flow with change are fueled by an enthusiasm for their work. This leads to decreased absenteeism and increased engagement. 
• Resilient people are able to emerge as leaders during unexpected or intense change. We count on these people to guide us through challenges when circumstances may be uncertain
• Resilience is directly tied to wellbeing. When we are able to quickly recover from trials, we are less likely to be overwhelmed or experience anxiety. 

Resilience can affect every area of how we approach life. Our ability to bounce back from adversity can directly affect our mood and our mindset. This will impact relationships and interactions both personally and professionally. When we look at the value of resilience in the workplace, it becomes the manifestation of leveraging emotional intelligence within circumstances. Each time we are faced with a challenge, we are invited to build resilience and strengthen it like a muscle. The more we practice building resilience within ourselves, the more we will be able to contribute to making a difference in our lives and at work.

The Bottom Line

Personal resilience can support a healthy relationship with our work, team members and our organization. As we successfully manage ourselves in the face of adversity, we are more available to learn, grow and lead.

Tactics for Building Resilience

• Recall past experiences. Consider how you have handled adversity in the past. Reflect on what you did well and what you would like to do differently in the future. Discuss these thoughts with a coach or use a journal. 
• Recognize when you are avoiding change or difficulty. Dodging the emotions that come along with change is far less empowering than dealing with them head on. 
• Create a mantra that empowers you in the face of adversity. It may sound simple, but even saying  “I’ve got this!” can make a big difference in the moment. 
• Practice self-care. When we take care of ourselves in whatever way is most effective for each of us, we can be better poised to face challenges. From how we eat, sleep and manage our time, caring for ourselves increases our ability to be resilient. 

Challenge Questions

Going forward, what are some actions you can take to build resilience? 

Which of the above bullet points stands out as the one you would most like to work on?

Resources

For further reading, see the following resources:

• Competency 26: “Being Resilient” in the Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ 
• Article: Resilience in the Workplace: What are the benefits and how can a business develop it 
• Article: Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship
• Article: How are emotional intelligence and resilience connected?