Teaching Resilience

The ability to be resilient cannot be understated in life. Things happen that go beyond our scope of understanding and many times well beyond our control. We have all heard the adage that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react (Cooper, 2002). The reason we have all heard the saying is because it resonates with us. Resilience is all about bouncing back from setbacks and adversity.

Mentors and colleagues in general can play an invaluable role in guiding others by showing emotional and psychological strength during difficult times. Life is fraught with challenges, and building resilience is a critical life skill. Effective mentorship entails not only imparting knowledge but also instilling in mentees the techniques and strategies to navigate adversity with grace. A mentor can empower their mentees to face life's challenges head-on, ultimately enhancing their personal and professional growth.

Resilience is a well-documented psychological concept, crucial for both personal and professional development. Carl Folke (2016) introduces the idea of ‘resilience thinking’. Before this research, the term resilience has been used in a very narrow sense, referring to a return to a state of equilibrium after some sort of disruption. There are other forms of the definition, but the focus is on recovery.  The Folke’s research, he reports most ideas of resilience has an implicit focus on trying to resist change and keep control of it to maintain a level of stability. Resilience thinking is more of an approach that is a complex adaptive system of how to embrace change and make positive use of it. 

Some strategies a mentor can use to guide their mentees in building resilience begin with trust and interpersonal communication. Positive self-talk should be encouraged as self-affirmation can bolster any frame of mind. Mentors should also provide tips of problem-solving skills. When face with adversity, being able to solve problems to find practical solutions is all part of resilience. A partner to problem solving is finding healthy coping strategies. If navigating adversity is important, then coping must be equal to the task. Mentors can also help by providing stories sharing their own experiences. It is easier to walk through a dark tunnel when the one you are walking with has been there before. 

Though we all want to have positive engagement, there are times when we fail. Failure is a part of life and being resilient is about learning from it. Mentors can help teach that setbacks and mistakes are opportunities for growth and development. 

Teaching resilience not only benefits the mentor-mentee relationship but also the organization. A workforce skilled in resilience is better equipped to handle change, adversity, and uncertainty. This, in turn, contributes to the organization's ability to weather challenges and adapt to evolving circumstances. The ripple effect will be noticed. 

Until next time...