What is resilience, and how can we become better at it
Resilience is the ability to push through adversity and grow from challenges. It’s not an innate trait, but a skill anyone can learn and strengthen over time. While some business advice encourages us to “move fast and break things” or “fail fast and fail often,” this approach doesn’t always translate well to personal growth. Building resilience should never come at the expense of our core identity and values—they are fundamental to who we are.
Our Managing Director, Liz Pickworth is a Certified Resilience Coach and has learned the skill of resilience as a late-stage rare cancer survivor. At the age of 31 she was diagnosed with a stage IV thymus tumour, underwent numerous surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and has survived almost 8 years living well, and thriving with the disease. Her doctors attribute her resilience and positive attitude with her ability to cope with the effects of treatment and live past her initial prognosis.
Studies have also shown that resilience and hope have a positive effect on the immune system and this is a field called psychoneuroimmunology. This field and especially in the field of Oncology, doctors recognise that a patient’s state of mind can have a positive impact on their overall health and survival.
The importance of resilience
Resilience isn’t a unique characteristic reserved for a few; it’s a skill that pays dividends when learned and applied. It means persevering despite adversity, learning from failures, and finding purpose in each experience. Like training for a marathon, building resilience requires grit, hard work, and staying true to your path—there are no shortcuts.
Everyone can learn resilience, and uncomfortable feelings such as failure, grief, and sadness can be powerful teachers. However, it’s important to strike a balance between what we can tolerate and what we’re willing to push through. Too much negative experience can overwhelm even the strongest among us.
At Sidelines Consulting and Advisory we have the “Facing It” resilience coaching program where individuals and organisations can learn the strategies to become more resilient leading to higher performance, self-esteem and even a healthier bottom line. The ‘Facing It’ Resilience program incorporates the six domains of resilience and as an add on the ‘Big 5’ personality traits so that individuals and organisations can have a whole picture regarding how resilient a person is and how their individual personality attributes to this. It can also be attributed at team, group and organisational level.
Studies have shown that organisations that have a resilient culture are higher performing and are less likely to have workers compensation claims, lower staff turnover and less sick days.
Five-factor model of personality
The five-factor model of personality is a hierarchical organization of personality traits in terms of five basic dimensions
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness
- Neuroticism
- Openness to Experience
Research using both natural language adjectives and theoretically based personality questionnaires supports the comprehensiveness of the model and its applicability across observers and cultures.
Strategies for Building Resilience
If you are not at the point where you can consider coaching, there are some things you can do to be more resilient right away. For example, you can practice daily mindfulness which helps you stay focused and present; this can reduce your resting heart rate and alleviate stress and tension.
1. Practice Mindfulness
Daily mindfulness helps you stay focused and present, reducing stress and tension. Even a few minutes of mindful breathing or meditation can make a difference.
2. Focus on Diet and Exercise
The mind and body are deeply connected. Taking care of your physical health—through regular exercise and a balanced diet—improves your ability to tolerate stress and boosts overall well-being. Good sleep hygiene is also essential; establish a wind-down routine before bed to help your body repair and recharge. Treat “junk food” as an occasional reward, not a daily habit.
3. Engage in Reflective Thinking
Being busy isn’t the same as being productive. Deep introspection, such as a 15-minute walk, can help you overcome mental blocks and spark creative solutions. If uncomfortable emotions arise, pause, reflect, and reach out to someone for support
4. Invest in Meaningful Relationships
Resilient people invest in personal relationships and value meaningful connections. Maintaining a support network—whether through a quick text or a phone call is essential for well-being, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging.
We hope you enjoyed these tips on resilience. They cost you nothing and you can get started right away.
If you would like to learn more about our “Facing It” coaching program, you can contact our Managing Director and Coach, Liz a Certified Resilience Coach.
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