Adaptability and Resilience
By /Lisa Bordeaux
“It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” -Charles Darwin The year 2021 was a case study in the need for adaptability and resilience. The global pandemic impacted so many areas of our lives, at times it felt like we were living on another planet. Yet, here we are, reading another issue of Partners in Progress with a fresh perspective on the importance of resilience. Do you want a team that stops at every obstacle or one that overcomes? Does stress result in your team becoming overly emotional or freeze their capacity? People are resilient when they have a positive outlook, deal with difficult situations with relative ease, and overcome negative emotions despite difficult situations. Resilient individuals are more engaged and positive. They adapt to stressful situations and help others overcome the inevitable setbacks of life and work. The most resilient among us see challenges as opportunities. They believe adaptability and resilience are life skills worth building. We all have a role to play in developing resilience in the sheet metal trade. Psychology professor and researcher Carol Dweck asserts that resilience is based on the belief that we can improve. Believing that you can improve is a key factor of a “growth mindset”. 10 » Partners in Progress » www.pinp.org
In her TED Talk on the “Power of Believing you can Improve,” she states that a person with a growth mindset believes they can improve and develop. This mindset provides optimism, resilience, and a willingness to take risks. In her studies, she learned you can foster a growth mindset with just two words: “Not Yet”. Tested extensively in Chicago schools, teachers began using those two words to great effect. They changed from giving students who fell behind a “Failing” grade to a “not yet” grade. That small label had a big impact and enabled students to persist. “not yet” changed the paradigm because it meant they weren’t done. They could pass if they kept trying and learning. This simple switch from “you failed” to “not yet” causes a cascade of resilience-friendly effects. It reduces the negative emotions associated with failure. It’s the difference between someone saying, “I can’t” and “I can”. Imagine you climb a mountain and someone asks, “Have you gotten to the top?” The answer “not yet” is very different from, “I failed.” It implies you haven’t reached your goal, but you are going to keep trying—a hallmark of resilience.
Why is resilience important?
Without resilience, your team is likely to crumble under the pressure of stressful situations. Members are going to embrace the way things are, and they will be inflexible and resistant to
