Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Bounce Right Back


They say resilience is one of the key attributes that companies have to instill within their corporate cultures to guarantee success in the 21st century.

It has something to do with the only constant being change in this global business world. So the ability to flex and bend like the wind will be more than a nice-to-have soft skill, but a de rigeur attribute that will speed innovation.

Resilience, or the ability to bounce back after adversity, is part of the human spirit. Sure, it's likely that no matter what you're going through, there's always someone who is struggling with an even bigger challenge. As if that thought alone is enough to make you bounce back.

It's hard to be resilient and easier to be myopic when you're in the thick of any problem. It could be a challenge at work, a creative struggle, a personal issue. Sometimes it takes time to heal whatever wound has resulted and to see that things are not as bad as they seem.

Other times, it just takes a friend, or, in the business world, a trusted colleague - who knows you, knows your history, your "stuff" - to say, "Snap out of it!"

Those tell-it-like-it-is friends can be invaluable - the ones who aren't afraid to tell you what's real. Who purposely or inadvertently help you to bounce back.

I've been lucky enough to find many people like this along the way, and I try to be this kind of friend when the situation warrants. It's a balancing act, this bouncing back.

4 comments:

fishwithoutbicycle said...

I think it can be a hard thing to do, but once you realise how much better it is to stay positive it's easier to do going forward. Sometimes we all need a bit of straight talking.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Fish. Absolutely, staying positive is key!

Flowers said...

i wish i were a little more trusting. i'm sure friends could give me advice but i'm usually of the opinion that no one reallyknows the situation better than me so how can they help. oh, dear.

i listen to my girlfriend when she gives me advice, partly because she gives it when she thinks i really need it (she's not one of those people who thinks they know better than everyone else - very refreshing) and partly because when she does the advice is always right on the money. maybe she's all i need.

Spandrel Studios said...

Welcome, Flowers! Sounds like your girlfriend is an excellent sounding board. My husband is the same way - and I always appreciate his advice because it's usually spot-on. (No matter how hard that may be to admit!)

Sometimes those closest to us really do know best.