Dr. Salvatore Maddi, a professor of psychology at the University of California says,
“People who are high in hardiness enjoy ongoing changes and difficulties. They find themselves more involved in their work when it gets tougher and more complicated. They tend to think of stress as a normal part of life, rather than as something that's unfair.''
As mentioned yesterday, resilience has been a topic of intense study by researchers. The research has given us clear characteristics of what differentiates people who thrive under stress from those who become less healthy and tend to languish.
The researchers indentified the traits of commitment, control, and challenge at the “transformational coping skills” shared by those who become stronger during stressful times.
More specifically, the people who possessed these coping skills were able to:
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Find the personal meaning in the challenge, rather than detaching and giving up.
- Plan out sound problem-solving strategies.
- Facilitate an atmosphere of support and encouragement among co-workers
- Help those around them build the traits of commitment, control, and challenge (they decrease the isolation, powerlessness, and fear that others feel).
Most importantly, while researchers believe that resilience traits come more naturally to some people, they’re finding that these skills can be taught.
Closely examine the “transformational coping skills” listed in the last blog. Which skills should you deliberately work hard to develop? Which skills could you focus on teaching to those you manage?
In addition, be alert to hire people who have demonstrated these traits throughout their lifetime. Hiring “top talent” based on a short-term track record (i.e. performance on their last job) may not be the only criteria worth considering when you add people to your recruiting pipeline. Look for people who demonstrate resilience.
Also, tailor your interviews to include questions that allow candidates to demonstrate their natural tendencies to be committed, seize control, and see opportunity amidst challenges.
Editor's Note: Much of the above research was accessed through the Center for Confidence and Well-Being. This organization is a great resource on this topic if you care to learn more on your own.
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