In the face of adversity

AQ - Adversity Quotient - Yes, it really is a thing!

You will definitely have heard of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and you’ll probably have heard of EQ (Emotional Quotient) but have you ever heard of AQ (Adversity Quotient)?

In essence AQ, a term first introduced by Paul Stoltz in 1997 in his pioneering book ‘Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities’, is the measure of human resilience - What we at Achieve Breakthrough would describe at the capacity to steer clear of unhelpful interpretations and anchor in what is possible in the face of adverse circumstances. Think Edison and his response to his 10,000 failures at creating the light bulb: “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work”

We are human and in situations that we do not anticipate and over which we have no control, we can become despondent or even overwhelmed - we can find ourselves in a state of mind that may really hold us back. High AQ ensures we can get back into rapid action after a Breakdown (What we at AB call anything that has us ‘stopped’) on our way to achieving our vision or goal.

Now, more than ever, it seems that AQ is critical in Leaders and teams as Covid has thrown most industries for a loop, and put many people into a very uncomfortable place, disrupting old assumptions around ways of working, working patterns and even the location of where our work happens. No one expected it. No one could control it. And many have suffered for it. As a Leader, handling setbacks is one of the hardest things to do. What you say and do when everything is not going as expected really matters. Not just for those around you, but also for yourself – self talk is one of the major elements that can have us in the best place, or in the very worst when things don’t go our way.

Get “response able”

Stoltz defines the ability to respond optimally to whatever happens the moment it strikes as “Response Ability”, a skill we must learn, ideally before it is required. Indeed, it has been found that high AQ is linked not just with performance at work but mental well-being. In which case, we would assert that the ability to and practice of listening to and challenging any unhelpful inner voices you may immediately have around unexpected obstacles and the adversity they cause has never been so crucial!

Our tip: Handle your Breakdowns before they happen.

When we coach people, one of the practices we ask them to use is ‘Standing in the Result’ of their future success - but we understand that the road to success is not a linear journey. Much can happen on the way and resilience is essential to stay the course. We ensure we support people in developing a healthy AQ by having them stand not only in the warm and happy place of success, but also in front of all the possible obstacles or Breakdowns that going for ambitious goals will cause, ahead of time. After all, when you’re in the future, hindsight is 20/20 and some obstacles can be conquered before they happen!

We believe that the making sure that our internal dialogue is helpful to us, and that any likely potential challenges are accounted for in our planning are two habits to integrate into our leadership approach . These naturally raise our AQ by becoming 'go to' mental and practical practices for overcoming Breakdowns. Adversity doesn't seem so... well, adverse, if we know that we have developed the resources and skill to cope when, not if , unexpected situations do occur. 

No one could have planned for this!

For those of you who have just choked on their coffee, I want you to know that I do not arrogantly propose that we could have foreseen the current global situation. No one could have predicted Covid and the immense and unprecedented ways in which it has tested us all, but it is undeniable that this has brought into sharp focus where we desperately need increased support and focus, developed capability and skill in handling adversity - as individuals and within organisations. AQ is very much 'a thing' that we all require in every stage of our lives, and we at AB have a commitment to empowering people to do more than just survive in times like these and in the future beyond.

What practices do you have for raising your AQ?