LEADERSHIP | When the going gets tough, the tough get going

LEADERSHIP | Why are some people able to “bounce back” from major setbacks in life and at work whilst others are overwhelmed by them and behave in self-defeating ways? Why are some people able to adapt quickly to new circumstances and thrive in constant change whilst others feel helpless and fail to embrace change? Why are some people able to sustain goal-directed energy when faced with obstacles whilst others crumble under pressure?

The answer to these three questions is resilience, which is crucial for continuous success in today’s rapidly changing and turbulent world. Resilient people often succeed where more intelligent and talented people fail. As succinctly stated by Robert Schuller, a personal development guru, “Tough times never last; but tough people do.”

An excellent example of a highly resilient individual is Abraham Lincoln. He lost Congressional campaigns twice in 1843 and 1846, and was also defeated twice for the Senate in 1855 and 1858. Yet in 1860, Lincoln won the presidential election and became the 16th president of the United States (1861- 65).

Many people fail to build better lives or to optimise their potential due to poor resilience. A good example of poor resilience is that of Jerry (not his real name). Jerry lost his managerial job two years ago due to poor performance at work. Instead of being self-reflective and self-correcting, he started blaming his boss and others for his predicament. Today, he is still jobless and survives on the salary of his wife, a lecturer in a local university.

The good news is that all of us have the capacity for resilience. Resilience involves thoughts, actions and behaviour that can be learned and acquired by anyone...