Resilience

Achieve Resilience in Business

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Resilience is the power to remain effective in the face of heightened demands, to surmount organisational difficulties in a positive manner, and to adapt in the face of change. At work, such challenges may include sudden increases in workload, organisational change or some unexpected difficulty.

Michael Comyn shares his thoughts on how to be mentally tougher as an Entrepreneur. Michael defines resilience as

“Your ability to absorb high levels of disruptive change, bounce back and even excel in times of change and uncertainty, without acting in dysfunctional ways.”

Content

Michael began his talk by outlining the concept of resilience and the origins of study on the topic. He explains why some people cope better with adversity than others He lists some signs that show when a person is affected negatively by disruption, change or uncertainty. He explains the processes going on in the brain that must be overcome to ensure resilience. He then lists some practical tips that can help.

Dysfunctional behaviours

  • Endless hours of TV
  • Withdrawing from friends or family
  • Frenzied social life to avoid issues
  • Overeating or weight gain
  • Under eating or weight loss
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Lashing out

Role of the Brain’s Amygdala and Pre-Frontal Cortex

The Top 8 Amygdala Triggers

  • Condescension and lack of respect
  • Being Treated Unfairly
  • Being Unappreciated
  • Feeling you’re not listened to or heard
  • Feelings of loneliness
  • Hunger
  • Toxic Relationships
  • Distinguishing between Fear vs Danger

Traits of Resilient People

  • They have strong role models
  • They have good reality testing skills
  • They have contacts outside their work community
  • They are hospitable to their friends and family regularly
  • They deal with direness quickly and openly
  • They prize their personal rituals
  • They are openly affectionate in their home
  • They have a sense of place and connection to that place
  • They connect with posterity

References

Cannon, W., Wisdom of the Body (W.W. Norton & Company: United States: 1932)

Peters, S., The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme for Confidence, Success and Happiness (Vermillion: London: 2011).

Rosch, P, “Hans Selye: Birth of Stress,” The American Institute of Stress, accessed 27 July 2015 http://www.stress.org/about/hans-selye-birth-of-stress/

Sapolsky, R., Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers (Holt: New York: 2004).