Resilience may be something you’ve heard of recently. But what does it mean, and how can you benefit from it? There is no shortage of definitions of resilience. Traditionally it has been defined as ‘bouncing back’ from difficult situations. However, this definition does not do justice to the true scope of resilience or its benefits.
Increasingly the application of resilience in boosting growth and achievement across various areas; personal, corporate, academic, health, sport – which have demonstrative its greater value. If you’d like to find out more about our resilience training services, click here.
Redefining resilience
One of the more modern definitions of resilience, and the one that we prefer to adopt, is “advancing despite adversity” (National Resilience Index, 2022). This definition moves away from the idea of simply ‘bouncing back’ to the status quo, but instead, it incorporates the importance of continuous growth and perseverance, constantly moving towards one goal despite the setbacks.
What is important to note is that we all have the capacity to become more resilient, we just need to learn and practice the skills!
But what are these skills?
The skills we need to be resilient
The National Resilience Index 2022 identifies six key domains of resilience that make up groups of skills that increase an individual’s capacity to be resilient:
- Vision – A sense of purpose and goals, alongside a feeling of congruence that actions are moving towards something meaningful.
- Composure – Having an internal awareness, being able to regulate emotions, and being able to manage stress.
- Reasoning – Problem-solving skills, being resourceful, anticipating challenges and planning ahead.
- Health – Healthy nutrition, quality sleep and regular exercise, which in turn supports brain health.
- Tenacity – Being persistent, having realistic optimism, and bouncing back to regain motivation.
- Collaboration – Building strong support networks, communication skills, and making meaningful connections.