Handle trying situations better by turning setbacks into learning opportunities ; Resilience: An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
Every manager must contend with obstacles, failures and changing circumstances and be able to bounce back and go on to bigger and better things. Doing this requires resilience, as well as the ability to accept and learn from good and bad experiences, while still staying focused on the major objectives.
People who can do this control their responses and don't let their emotions overwhelm them. They view each situation rationally, assess the causes and possibilities, and look for effective solutions. As a result, every setback becomes an opportunity to learn, or a source of inspiration to do things differently.
To develop a resilient, forward-looking attitude like this, the first step is to accept adversity when it occurs. There is no point railing against it or denying what has happened. Unless you look at the situation honestly and accept it for what it is, you will have trouble dealing with the underlying cause.
So, when misfortune strikes, concentrate on establishing the facts of the case. Try to look at the situation from as many angles as possible and, if possible, seek feedback from those involved and others who can take a dispassionate view. Then, you can pinpoint where things took a turn for the worse and why mistakes were made.
Of course, complex emotions may make it difficult to take a detached view of the situation. When things go wrong, it is common to experience anger, resentment, humiliation, and much more. However, resilient managers should be able to minimise the negative impact of such emotions for themselves, as well as for their peers and subordinates.
