In our professional lives, resilience often determines success more than any other trait. We all face moments of failure or unexpected challenges, and it is how we respond to these difficulties that defines our growth. Whether it is a failed project, an unforeseen challenge, or a difficult manager, resilience is what keeps us moving forward.

As an Organisational psychologist, I often meet individuals who wish to build resilience by reframing what they consider as failures. Rather than seeing failure as a stop sign, they start, viewing it as an opportunity to pivot, learn, and develop new strategies. It is not about ignoring the hardship but acknowledging it, understanding what went wrong, and then using that insight to strengthen your resolving strategies. 

Self-compassion plays a key role here, as many of us are our own harshest critics. Offering yourself the same kindness you would to a colleague during difficult times can drastically improve your ability to bounce back on your feet.

In a work environment, resilience also involves flexibility. Organisations that encourage a growth mindset, foster employees who are more adaptable and less likely to be derailed by challenges. Leaders can cultivate resilience by providing psychological safety, where failures are seen as learning experiences, not reasons for punishment.

Building resilience is not about enduring endless challenges, but about learning to recover quickly and effectively from them, keeping yourself aligned with your long-term goals. It is this bounce-back ability that keeps careers and organisations thriving.

P.S. If you wish to learn more about being resilient, book a coaching session with me here