Resilience
Resilience: the ability to adapt rather than simply resist
Resilience is often presented as the ability to "bounce back" after a setback.
This definition is useful, but it only tells part of the story.
In organizations as in personal life, difficulties do not always disappear quickly.
Changes are happening one after another.
Uncertainties persist.
Constraints are evolving.
The real question then becomes:
How can we keep moving forward when the challenges persist?
Resilience is the capacity to adapt
Being resilient does not mean ignoring difficulties.
Nor does it involve bearing more pressure.
Resilience is more about the ability of a system to adapt to situations encountered without gradually losing its ability to function.
This adaptation allows us to regain a balance despite the changes.
All teams are experiencing difficulties
No organization is exempt:
- during periods of uncertainty;
- to changes;
- to tensions;
- to unforeseen events;
- to transformations.
However, some teams seem to quickly regain their stability while others gradually tire themselves out.
The difference does not lie solely in the events experienced.
It often lies in the resources available to deal with it.
Resist or adapt?
In many organizations, resilience is sometimes confused with resistance.
We value the ability to persevere, to continue despite difficulties, to make more effort.
This attitude may be useful in the short term.
But when it becomes permanent, it can lead to an excessive mobilization of resources.
Adapting is different.
Adaptation consists of adjusting one's functioning according to the reality encountered.
It helps to preserve the resources needed to continue evolving over the long term.
Resources that support resilience
Resilience relies on several mutually reinforcing capacities:
- understand the situation;
- adjust your answers;
- learn from experience;
- cooperate with others;
- preserve its resources;
- to find balance after demanding periods.
The more these resources are developed, the more natural adaptation becomes.
A capability that also concerns organizations
Resilience is not solely an individual matter.
A team also develops adaptability skills.
Some organizations are gradually learning to:
- to change their practices;
- adjust their operating methods;
- maintain cooperation despite changes;
- continue to learn from their experiences.
This capacity becomes a true factor in sustainability.
Developing resilience
Developing resilience is not about asking people to be stronger.
The aim is to create the conditions that allow individuals and teams to adapt more easily to the situations they encounter.
When these conditions are met, difficulties become more easily overcome and resources remain more available to build the future.
Conclusion
Resilience is not simply about returning to one's initial state.
It sometimes allows us to move towards a way of working that is better suited to the realities encountered.
The most resilient teams are not those that avoid difficulties.
These are often the ones that continually develop their ability to learn, adapt and evolve together.