09 Apr Resilience: Bending to Bounce Back
The willow that bends to the tempest often escapes better than the oak which resists it. — Albert Schweitzer
What a month it has been. The last few weeks have been dominated by a barrage of sobering headlines, new working-from-home schedules, and all kinds of big and small adjustments. Some people and companies seem to be adjusting more quickly to these difficult times than others. But all of us have the resources within us to be more resilient. Here are some steps you can take now to help yourself and your business adapt and be in position to recover more quickly.
- Accept Reality. How are you and your leaders directing your attention and energy? Are you spinning your wheels lamenting what was, or moving forward by accepting what is? Certain goals may no longer be attainable, but accepting things as they are will free up your energy for creating new opportunities.
- Set Intentions. In these uncertain times, what people need most is focus and clarity. What values will guide your decisions? What are the priorities for this month and this week? What do you want to be proud of two months from now? Resilient leaders share and stay connected to their intentions.
- Build Community. We are literally isolated from each other right now and relationships are more important than ever. The people we surround ourselves with can make a big difference in how we weather this storm. Stay active with your business, social or faith community to boost your creativity and positive outlook. If you don’t have a tribe, take this opportunity to start building one.
- Maintain Perspective. To a large degree, our thoughts and feelings create our reality. If you find yourself falling into a funk, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Think about times when you’ve overcome adversity in the past. Take a break from the news and get some fresh air. Remember that keeping your perspective will help other people find their footing, too.
We don’t know yet what the business context will look like in the next few months or a year. But we can act now to build our resilience, bring calm to this experience, and come out stronger than before. Take care of yourself everyone, and we’ll see you on the other side.
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