TB108 Resilience

							Dealing With Change in
   the Workplace:
  Resilience Through
       Adversity
“THE   ONLY CONSTANT
       IS CHANGE”

  -Heraclitus 500 B.C.
    Objectives to Learn:
   Why Some People Handle Change & Adversity
    Better
   The #1 Core Personal Characteristic to Handle
    Any Change
   What it Takes to Bounce Back
   How to Break Free from Inner Barriers to
    Resiliency
   Benefits from Learning Survivor Qualities and
    Abilities
   The Strengths to Develop to Become Highly
    Resilient
Change

 Change May Make Things More Difficult in
  the Short Run
 Resistance to Change is Normal

 Change Disrupts the Current Comfort Zone

 Change Can Undermine Our Need to Feel
  Appreciated, Valued, and In Control
 But... Change Is Also An Opportunity For
  Growth!
“To improve is to change; to
be perfect is to change often.”
                -Winston Churchill
Response to Change/Adversity

   Stressful, Adverse Conditions Can Result
    in Physical and Psychological Illness
   Evidence Shows Not All Become Ill
   Why is it that Some People, Going
    Through the Same Adversities, Do Not
    Show the Signs of Stress?
   How Do Some Overcome the Adversity
    and Grow to Become Stronger?
Responding to Adversity


   Based on your experience,
    – what is the difference between
      people who bounce back from
      difficulties with good energy
    – and people who can't handle an
      ordinary day very well?
Resilience Defined


“The physical property of a material that
    can return to its original shape
after determination that does not exceed
             its elastic limit”

                 -Merriam-Webster dictionary
                            .
Human Resilience



“A Person’s Ability to:
Absorb High Levels of Disruptive Change,
Bounce Back, and Even Excel
in Times of Change and Uncertainty,
Without Acting In Dysfunctional Ways.”
                          Al Siebert, Ph.D.
When We Use Resilience

1. To Overcome Past Obstacles

2. To Navigate Everyday Adversities
3. To Bounce Back From Life-Altering
   Events
4. To Grow to Become Wiser, Stronger
“I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm
learning to sail my ship.”
                   -Louisa May Alcott
Responding to
Disruptive Change




            From The Resiliency Advantage, Al Siebert, Ph.D.
     Levels Of
     Developing Resiliency

I.    Maintaining Health, Emotional Stability,
      and Well-Being
II. Problem Focused Coping
III. Developing a Strong Inner Self
IV. Developing the Resiliency Skills
V.    Converting Bad Experiences Into Good
Level I:
Restore Health
   Stress vs. Strain Syndrome
    – Dr. Hans Selye: Pioneering Stress Research
    – We Differ in How Much We Can Handle
   Take Responsibility to Problem Solve
    – Better to Focus Outward to Problem Solve
                                           (Lazarus)
    – Internal Locus vs. External Locus of Control
       Self-Motivated vs. Forces Outside   (Rotter)
Level I:
Hardiness Research
   1970’s Studies of AT&T Breakup
    – 2/3 of Managers/Execs = Stress Illnesses
    – 1/3 Remained Healthy and Happy…Why?
   Commitment
    – To be successful and help others
   Control
    – Believed They Had Influence
   Challenged
    – Energized to Solve Problems, Face Difficulties
Level I: Healthy Habits
Physical Resilience
   Energy Management
    – Regaining (Energizing)
    – Releasing (Relaxing)
    – Regulating (Pacing)
    – Refocusing (Redirecting)
   Enjoy Strain Like a Good Workout!
    – Strain/Pause/Breathe…(Repeat)…Relax
Know Yourself First,
Then You Can Change
   Understand the Recurrent Situations in
    which You are Least Resilient
    – Adversity: What Pushes Your Buttons?
    – Beliefs: Identify the Automatic
      Thoughts
    – Consequences: Feelings and Behaviors
“Every adversity, every failure,
every heartache carries with it the
seed of an equal or greater
benefit.”
                         -Napoleon Hill
Level II:
Problem Focused Coping
   Problem-Focused Coping Leads to
    Resiliency Better than Emotion-
    Focused Coping
   Emotional Reactions Drain Resources
    and Lead to Helplessness
   A Waste to Assign Blame, Lament
    Misfortune and Play Role of Victim
   Time to Rise to the Occasion!
Level II:
Problem Focused Coping

   Some Disengage from the Challenge
    of a Crisis by Overreacting Emotionally
   In Contrast, The More Resilient…
    – Control Their Emotions in a Crisis
    – Engage the Problem Solving
    – Then Process Feelings Afterwards
    – (They Have ‘Impulse Control’)
Level II: Emotional Stability
Emotional IQ
         Awareness
         Acceptance
         Alternatives
         Action
    Level II:
    Emotional Awareness

   The Role of Emotion
    – Personal Information
    – Feelings as Signals
   The Value of Understanding Emotions
    – Listening to the Language of
      Emotions Without Over-Reacting
Feelings as
“Information Signals”
Anger        Loss of Control

Fear         Threat (Real or Perceived)

Anxiety      Vulnerability (the Unknown)

Depression        Loss
Emotional States

   Positive Emotions Broaden and Build
    – Physiologically: Endorphins, Energizing
    – Mentally: Thinking and Creativity
    – Increase Resilience
   Negative Emotions Narrow and Weaken
    – Physiologically: Draining, Illness Promoting
    – Restrict Cognitive Skills and Creativity
    – Impairs Ability to Bounce Back
Level II:
Use “Intelligence” to Solve
Problems
   Analytical Intelligence
    – Logic, Reason, Abstract Thinking
    – For Familiar Problems
   Creative Intelligence
    – Invent Unusual Solutions
    – For New and Unfamiliar Circumstances
   Practical Intelligence
    – For Situational, Real-Life Problems
“The world breaks everyone and
afterward many are stronger at
the broken places.”
                  -Ernest Hemingway
    Level III:
    Overcoming Inner Barriers
The Personal Gatekeepers to Resiliency:
 Self-Confidence
     – The Way to Effective Action
   Self-Esteem
     – Controls How We Feel About Ourselves
   Self-Concept
     – Our Idea of Who We Are
Level III:
The Roots of Resiliency
   The Problem With the “Good Child”
    Upbringing
   Identity Based on External Factors or
    Based on Values, Qualities and
    Abilities?
    – Constructed Self vs. Discovered Self
   Job Description vs. Professionalism
   Willingness to Dream and Be Creative
“What doesn't kill us
makes us stronger.”

               -Friedrich Nietzsche
Level IV:
Skills & Qualities to
Strengthen
1. Flexibility - Comfort With Complexity
   Contradictory Personality Qualities
     Creative and Analytical
     Sensitive and Tough
     Cautious and Trusting
     Logical and Intuitive
     Calm and Emotional
     Serious and Playful
     Unselfish and Selfish
Level IV:
Skills and Qualities to
Strengthen
2. Constantly Learn from Life Experience
     – Be Changed by Them
3.   Deepen Relationships with Friends
     and Family
4.   Expect Things to Work Out Well
5.   Copy - Learning From The Resilient
6.   Community - Access Resources
7.   Wide Range of Interests
Level IV:
Skills and Qualities to
Strengthen
8. Experience and Express the Range of
    Emotions
9. Read Others With Empathy
10. Practice Childlike Curiosity and
    Playfulness
11. Defend Yourself Well
12. Care For Others
13. Laugh – A Keen Sense of Human
14. Spiritual/Philosophical Framework
“Adversity has the effect of eliciting
talents,
which in prosperous circumstances
would have lain dormant.”
                        -Horace (B.C. 65)
Level V:
Thriving
   Converting Bad Experiences Into Good
   Gain Strength from Adversity
   Recover Faster and Emerge Stronger
   Transformed by the Process of
    Surviving
 “We cannot direct the wind
but we can adjust our sails.”
Personal Review:
Implementing Resilience

   What characteristics of resilience do I
    recognize in myself?
   What traits of resilience would I like to
    cultivate?
   What can I apply from resilience as a
    part of my action plan?
How the EAP Can Help
During Times of Change

YOUR EAP CAN . . . .

 Help You Deal With Emotional Conflicts
  Regarding the Change
 Assist You With Coping Strategies for
  Dealing With Change
 Be a Resource to Help You Make a
  Successful Transition
The Employee Assistance Service
           Is . . . .

   Confidential
   Available 24 Hours a Day
   Available to You at No Charge
   Available to You and Your Immediate
    Family Members
 Your EAP is just a telephone call away
 A counselor is available to talk with
  you at any time.
 Referrals to local Employee Assistance
  Professionals