We came across a recent article in one of our legal magazines, which may be of interest to some. Here’s our summary =
Resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back when things don’t go as planned. It is recognised as an increasingly important trait in the workplace.
Resilient people are able to utilise their skills and strengths to cope and recover from problems and challenges and face difficulties head on. This does not mean that they experience less distress or anxiety than other people do, but that they handle difficult circumstances in ways that foster strength and growth.
In any workplace there will be resilient people, while others will find it hard to cope with change or problems. If you are someone who finds it difficult to forge ahead when things go wrong, the good news is that you can develop the skills to cope, and even flourish, when the going gets tough at home or in the office.
Ten tips to build resilience:
- Learn to see challenges, mistakes and failures as valuable learning experiences.
- Give yourself a pat on the back when things go well. Be kind to yourself, and forgive yourself when things go wrong. Treat yourself occasionally.
- Don’t give in to negative thoughts. Challenge them, and ask whether those thoughts are true or realistic.
- Use humour to defuse and downplay difficulties. Laugh at yourself, and situations.
- Be flexible. Recognise that nothing stays the same, especially in the workplace.
- Take care of your physical and mental health. Get enough sleep and exercise, and eat well. When your physical self is in good shape, you’re less fragile.
- Take time off work. Use your holiday entitlement and make sure you take breaks during the working day.
- Recognise that a bad situation is usually temporary. If your boss/client doesn’t like a piece of work you did, it doesn’t mean that he/she will never like any work you do.
- Build a support network. Make time for friends and family who encourage and strengthen you, and consult colleagues with whom you get on well.
- Don’t extrapolate one bad situation into another unrelated situation. If you’re not good at a certain type of work, you may excel in another.
And finally, remember that challenges are not necessarily negative. Accepting that things won’t always go well is vital, as attitude and perspective are fundamental to building resilience.
