RESILIENCE

= Resilience = = = media type="youtube" key="ZkWLix_4_ms" height="385" width="480" Facing challenges is part of life. Whether it is working hard to get good grades in school, trying to make your favorite sports team, or interviewing to get your ideal job, resilience is the trait that will help you to take on the challenges and overcome setbacks along the way. It is the strength that enables a person to persevere until they reach their goals. A resilient person works hard to do their best but doesn’t give up when their best still needs to get better. Find out how you can develop resilience against obstacles that stand in your way.


 * DISCUSSION QUESTIONS**

1. Define //resilience.// How does the quote of the day relate to the definition of this term?

2. A resilient person demonstrates a number of characteristics. With your classmates, brainstorm a list of such characteristics. How does each of them help to make a person resilient?

3. The ability to adapt is an important part of being a resilient person. In today’s fast-paced working environment, it can make the difference between success and failure. What are some different aspects of today’s changing work environment that require resilience? How can adapting to these changes lead to further success?

4. “I believe things happen for a reason. No matter how chaotic and traumatic it may seem at the time, if you stay with it, with patience and persistence, there is a better opportunity around the corner. You must look for it.” This quote comes from Tom Kelley, a corporate vice president who gave it his all. His company folded unexpectedly, and he lost everything. He relied on his skills and his resilience to jump right back into the workforce and work from the bottom up to find success once again. Reflect on this quote. How many times in your life has it felt as if every challengeyou face seems to be “the end of the world”? We place so much emphasis on things that go wrong that we forget to find the opportunities that arise out of them. Can you think of a time when you made a problem bigger than it was? Asyou look back on it now, was it really that bad? Are there any opportunities that you may have missed out on because you were too caught up in focusing on the negative?

5. Organizations work to foster resilience in all of their employees. Employers focus on building resilience by creating a sense of dedication/personal investment in one’s job, involving employees in problem-solving and decision-making processes, and delegating responsibility effectively. How can each of these factors increase resilience in employees within an organization?

6. What are some factors in today’s workplace that can cause stress and pressure on workers? How would a resilient person handle these stresses? What are some things that create pressure in your life? How can you become more resilient to these factors?