We need to keep talking about Resilience

I understand that many people are avoiding the word ‘resilience’.

I suggest this is because they either (a) don’t properly understand the meaning of resilience, (b) haven’t been taught how to leverage it effectively, or (c) have not been empowered to invest in it.

I celebrate the word resilience! It is foundational to innovation, and I believe it is a critical process for STEM leaders to understand and apply, from both a workforce and innovation/productivity outlook. ??

If either of the above perspectives resonate with you, please read on.

UNPACKING RESILIENCE FROM A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

Back in April, I participated in a 26-km trek for charity along the Victorian Surf Coast Walk, which immerses walkers in spectacular coastal cliff, beach and bush scenery. This was the longest walk I had done in many years, and I wanted to enjoy it, so had prepared over the preceding months with local hikes that gradually expanded in their distance.

What does this have to do with resilience?

On the day of the walk, I was glad I had prepared, and was able to easily complete the harder hill climbs and sand walks. Walking with friends, we stopped, when necessary, after particularly steep sections and to take in the extraordinary views over the ocean. At the two designated rest stops we rested briefly before moving on, full of enthusiasm and energy. It wasn’t until the final kilometre, arguably the easiest terrain of the walk, that we really struggled with weary legs. Once we crossed the finish line, I realised that immediate rest and recovery were more necessary than I had anticipated. Rather than push on to an afternoon of activity, I rested for the afternoon and had a long, relaxing dinner overlooking the ocean. This adjustment meant that the next day I felt revitalised, ready to fully engage in the day’s planned activities.

Adapting my plans and investing in that short recovery period, rather than pushing on, reflects key components of the resilience framework I teach STEM and Security leaders and organisations.

For any technical system – whether a software or security system, a piece of highly engineered equipment, or an aircraft – recognising, responding to and recovering from adversity quickly, with as little impact on the system as possible, is key to system performance. It is supported by enablers that are built into system design, such as ongoing maintenance, system review and upgrade, and continual monitoring for threats that will interrupt the system. These enablers support the system to adapt to rather than tolerate adversities, interruptions and faults.

The key element of a resilient system (rather than one that tolerates interruptions) is adaptation to the environment. The same is true for organisations, teams and individuals. I often see organisations and teams pushing on, persevering, and trying to endure adversity. They get stuck in the cycle of toleration and responding, rather than taking the time to recover, invest in appropriate enablers, and adapt to resolve the instances of specific challenges and adversities. Rather than taking time to recharge, strengthen key enablers and use innovation to adapt, leaders and employees get exhausted, become less effective and engaged, and are increasingly suffering burnout.

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Incorporating resilience into leadership practice

After watching too many leaders, teams and organisations suffer this cycle, trying to endure rather than adapt to a range of adversities, I developed a number of frameworks to maximise the resilience of individuals and teams.

I have been teaching these in a range of STEM organisations over the past 6 years and am sharing it in Aya Leadership’s virtual Leadership Resilience Amplifier Masterclass in August.

This 1-day Masterclass teaches emerging and established leaders in STEM & Security how to build adaptive teams that thrive in response to challenge, change and disruption from a systems framework perspective, across key resilience components. It is full of practical frameworks, strategies, and tools to support growth and adaptability and create a resilient workforce. ?????

If you are ready to systematically apply resilience – rather than perseverance, endurance and tolerance of adversity – in your team or organisation, please join us in this Masterclass, which will run online over two half-day sessions on 16 and 22 August.

Find all the details on the Masterclass content, learning outcomes, dates, fee and registration here.

?If you would like to understand how this Masterclass will benefit you and your teams, or discuss an in-house Masterclass for your team or organisation, please get in touch.

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