Recently I was asked to design a workshop on Resilience. Probably no surprise given the currently situation of our world. I began by looking-up the definition of resilience. Here’s a few I found:
The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties
An ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change
Process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress
Not just bouncing back but involving profound personal growth
My favorite is the last: Not just bouncing back but involving profound personal growth. That definition reminded me of the movie – True Grit. Whether you’re a fan of the 1969 version with John Wayne and Kim Darby or the 2010 remake with Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld, the message is the same. The real resilience was the heroine’s ability to transform another life. In so many ways, her grit restored life to the washed-up US Marshall. Truly, profound personal growth occurred.
As I reflected on what leaders might do to build resilience, I decided to play around with the acronym TRUE GRIT. Here’s what I came up with:
G = Clarify the Goal
Find Purpose
Focus on the Future
Hopeful Outlook
R = Rely on Relationships
Help Others
Build Community
Practice Encounter Listening™
I = Innovate during Challenge
Find the Opportunity
Strive, Struggle and Grow
Stay Flexible
T = Take Care
Mind your Health
Foster Positive Thinking
Practice Gratitude
As leaders, we might truly support resilience through creating a work environment filled with:
Trust
Resourcefulness
Understanding
Empowerment
May our followers say of us, as Mattie Ross says to Rooster Cogburn, “They tell me you’re a leader with True Grit.”