How can you use change to improve your resilience?

In the dark soil, the sunflower seed does not see that it will sprout into a beautiful golden orange. When it is a tiny seedling, the Hyperion cannot imagine how its height will surpass all other trees. When you are afraid of change, you should remember that God & nature know what is best for your growth.

Drawing from the wisdom of the Upanishads, often says, "Our actions define us in life. If we act with goodness, we become good; if our actions are harmful, they lead to negativity. Embracing good deeds purifies us, while negative actions taint our character. It's not just about what we face in life, but how adaptably and ethically we respond to these challenges that ultimately shapes our character and destiny.

Embracing change is a cornerstone of building resilience. Start by reframing your mindset—see challenges as opportunities for growth. Cultivate adaptability by exposing yourself to new experiences and learning from them. Develop a support network to navigate uncertainties, fostering collaboration and shared insights. Establish clear goals during transitions, providing a sense of direction. Regularly assess and adjust strategies, staying agile in the face of change. Celebrate small victories, reinforcing your ability to overcome obstacles.

Have a bias towards change! If deep down, the comfort of the present, and/or a fear of the unknown is holding you back, have a bias towards change. Yes, things may or may not pan out the way you planned. No one can predict with 100% certainty. Irrespective of the outcome, what is certain is that you will evolve tremendously as a professional and as a human being. No amount of training or reading can compensate for that experience. I wrote my experience in a LinkedIn blog 'Ten Lessons from a Leadership Transition'. The change brought new perspectives, expanded my network, and opened new doors. Most importantly, it shed my ego (we all have that!) and rekindled a fire to be a learner, to start again. #Priceless

Change is hard (usually in the beginning), lets face it. Whether its exercising or following a simple (new) procedure at work, change is hard. The best way to improve resilience is to find that intrinsic motivation to accept change and putting on the learner hat (keeping aside one's ego) and learning what the change is all about. Practicing the change (consciously) every day until it becomes a habit is the key. Its easier said than done. During this process, we should forgive ourselves if we are unable to practice the change everyday. The key is to become aware of this and then start practicing the change again. There will be ups and downs. As long as we are making progress, we will keep building resilience in us.

Adaptability is a muscle. The broader the experiences we have, the more neuro pathways we have to call on when change happens. Like any athlete, a muscle that is not used wastes away. Keep your change muscle active, embrace new ideas, thinking and ways of doing things. It will protect you from becoming extinct. Read widely, especially those who disrupt your thinking.

Change and learning are correlated with each other. Not all change leads to learning (behavioural change) - unless knowledge is applied there are no benefits. And not all learnings will lead to change (adoption) - unless the benefits are worthwhile. So it is important to reframe change on a personal level and to love (embrace) it, change (modify) it or leave (reject) it. When you find yourself in the midst of a change process, it helps to personalise it as learning opportunity and to leverage it to achieve goals that make it worthwhile for you. Use meaningful opportunities to increase your market value and marketability. If there truly is no adequate personal benefit then save yourself the pain and move.

In my consultancy with a Puerto Rican organization, we turned the challenges of Organizational Transformation into growth opportunities. We emphasized exploration and curiosity, conducting regular training to enhance skills and encouraging hands-on experimentation. This not only improved proficiency but also confidence in change management. We were able to provide robust support and resources, crucial for their learning journey. Celebrating every achievement, big or small, we reinforced the organizational values and fostered a culture of constant improvement and innovation. This approach underlined the transformative impact of continuous learning in organizational resilience and growth.

Building resilience can be really hard. I mean, our minds are wired to take the path of least resistance. But don't despair, we aren't set up to fail. Not always! Try a simple mindset shift from "What could go wrong?" to "What could I learn from this?" This subtle change in focus can make a world of difference for you. Remember, learning is a continuous, lifelong process. Think of mistakes as not setbacks, but stepping stones toward your personal mastery.

Change is synonymous with learning. Each change we encounter brings along a valuable lesson, a new insight or a fresh perspective. By willingly embracing the learning process that comes with change, we not only equip ourselves better to adapt to the change but also enrich our knowledge and skills. Making it a habit to derive learning from every change can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing resilience.

Change supports personal development, expansion and transformation. It allows new experiences and different insights. See it as an opportunity to discover greater possibilities and potential. Resilience teaches us not to be afraid of the unknown but to trust in the flow even in the midst of seeming chaos. This is the essence of the growth mindset. Trust changes are happening at the right time for you as part of the natural cycle of constant renewal. Let go of heavy thoughts and see yourself like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Maintain your emotional state through meditation, the flow of creative activities or walking in nature. Fundamentally change is inevitable and building resilience allows us to trust the process is working for us.

Embracing a growth mindset is pivotal in leveraging change to enhance resilience. It's about fostering trust in one's capacity to learn and flourish amidst change. Atomic habits vividly illustrate the impact of consistent, incremental efforts. Improving by just 0.01% daily amounts to a significant 37.8% improvement in a year. Conversely, standing still or regressing by 0.01% daily leads to a staggering 97% loss in a year. This showcases the power of continuous growth versus stagnation. Embracing change as an opportunity to cultivate a growth mindset enables individuals to navigate uncertainties, adapt, and continually improve, ultimately bolstering resilience in the face of change.

As Carol Dweck said, "The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life." For instance, when faced with a new project at work, seeing it as a chance to expand skills rather than a daunting task builds resilience, enhancing personal and professional growth. This mindset shift not only bolsters our resilience but also empowers us to flourish even in uncertain times.

The big question is how! How you develop growth mindset? I believe you need to meet the most important person in your life - you, everyday. I strongly recommend meditation to develop self awareness, resolve inner conflicts, develop clarity, to let go of attachment, and to be a free bird, ready to explore the uncharted territories.

In my consultancy with a Puerto Rican Organization undergoing organizational transformation, fostering a growth mindset was key to navigating change. Initially, the transformation seemed daunting to the team, with apprehensions about new roles and processes. By applying the NEWS Navigation framework, we aligned personal growth with organizational goals; we set realistic milestones, celebrating each as a step towards mastery and resilience; we encouraged exploration providing ample support; and we cultivated a culture of learning and adaptability. Regular reflection sessions encouraged sharing and growth. This approach not only facilitated successful transformation but also ingrained a resilient, growth-oriented, and innovation culture.

Who's on your team when embracing change? In my work at Universit?t Hamburg, I believe in the power of collective strength and, as Brené Brown rightly says, 'Daring leaders work to make sure people can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging.' Building a support network is more than seeking help; it's about fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute. Our university culture thrives on synergy, where diverse perspectives unite to transform challenges into springboards for development and growth. Empower your journey through change by actively building and participating in supportive networks that nurture belonging and resilience.

A robust support network, comprising family, friends, mentors, or professional colleagues, can provide necessary guidance, emotional support, and diverse perspectives. These can help you navigate changes more efficiently and effectively, thereby bolstering your resilience.

I admit, I have been terrible at practicing self-care. As a working parent, I have the tendency to put family and work first, and then find myself running on empty by the week's end! Self-care isn't just about basic needs, it's about meeting your unique individual needs to rest and recover, and recharge your own energy. One thing that has helped me improve my own resilience is in cultivating positive self-talk. For me, this has been a valuable strategy to keep my spirits high, along with scheduling in non-negotiable breaks into my days such as a movement break to get some fresh air away from the monitor.

Prioritizing self-care amid change is vital, yet often overlooked. Our brains prioritize survival, relying on learned behaviors from childhood. However, what helped us survive in the past might not align with today's world. Sometimes, these survival instincts can even be detrimental. Understanding our emotional agility becomes crucial in overcoming this paradox. It's about recognizing behaviors that served us in the past but might hinder us now. Nurturing emotional agility allows us to break free from harmful patterns, enabling authentic self-care. By acknowledging these intricacies, individuals can navigate change more resiliently, prioritizing self-care as an essential component for thriving amidst dynamic environments.

It's crucial to practice self-care during these periods to maintain our physical and emotional health. This could include following a balanced diet, ensuring regular physical activity, getting adequate sleep, practicing mindfulness, or even seeking professional help when needed. Taking care of oneself is a fundamental aspect of improving resilience.

It helps to start with what defining resilience means. In the context of change management it means increasing your ability to assimilate change before your threshold of dysfunctional behaviour is reached and the ability to process change more efficiently, consuming less assimilation points than before. Resilience doesn't make you immune to the effects of change but enables you to better process changes that you realise may be necessary. Given the options love it, leave it or change it, this aligns with love it. If you don't believe the change is worthwhile then you have to option to leave or possibly to modify the outcome destination. It is also important to note that resilience is relative and varies from person to person & situation.

Mastering flexibility within oneself is an intimidating challenge in the realm of self-awareness in your leadership journey. This complexity arises from the deeply ingrained attachments that we form to our identities, coupled with the prevalence of a fixed mindset. Here's my top 3 coaching tips for you: 1. Reflect on your beliefs and reactions to understand where resistance stems from. 2. Challenge beliefs holding you back. Explore different perspectives to break free. 3. Set small, achievable goals that involve adapting your perspectives.

Change is a constant in life, and our response to it determines our resilience. Resistance or fear of change can hinder our progress, whereas flexibility and adaptability can pave the way for growth. By learning to adapt and adjust our strategies according to new circumstances, we can improve our resilience significantly.

Do you best and leave the rest! A profound ancient wisdom from Geeta - do your karma and do not worry about the outcome. yes, easier said than done. But that is the crux of all fears, worries. We orient ourselves too much to outcomes or what ifs. Instead, attaching to effort and surrendering to outcome is the way to go.

Your capacity to deal with uncertainties is what makes you resilient. So, to improve your resilience you should work towards increasing your appetite for uncertainties. Few ways in which you could do so are: 1. Accept that change is inevitable. Understand that what comes on the other side of the change is always better than what you had prior to change. 2. Develop a solution mindset. Problems and roadblocks should excite you and these should appear like opportunities. 3. Work towards building a network which can prove supportive in the difficult times. 4. Enhance awareness of your domain by reading case studies and analysis of historical failures and tough times. This can provide you with valuable ideas during a difficult situation.

When you know your roots are deep, you are not insecure or fearful of Growth. Similar is the case with becoming Resilient while using Change. Be Deliberate about Choosing Change every single time while having your stability rocks close to you. Without having basics in place and artificially trying to become Resilient might backfire. Few examples of doing it: 1)Travel to a new place but have emergency contacts ready and handy. 2) Start the new venture which you always wanted to, while having an active ready-to-support professional network. Hope this makes sense. Good luck ??

View change as an opportunity rather than a threat. Even unwelcome changes can open new doors and possibilities if we approach them with an open and curious mindset. Train yourself to ask "what opportunities does this create?". Connect with your deeper purpose. When we are anchored by a sense of meaning and purpose, external changes feel less destabilizing. Reflect on what really matters to you at a fundamental level and allow that to be your guide. Let go of attachments. Oftentimes our suffering comes not from the change itself but our attachment to the way things were. Practice non-attachment by remembering that the only constant is change. Desiring things to stay the same limits resilience.

To improve your resilience, start with develop a deep sense of self-awareness. - Explore your beliefs and values. - Understand why you resist change. - Try journaling or mindfulness to reflect on your reactions. Developing your self-awareness will help you identify areas where flexibility is needed.