4 BIG THINGS THAT RESILIENT PEOPLE DO

​In a previous blog post, we discussed “The One Trait That Can Give You an Edge in the Job Market.”That one trait? Resiliency.
However, it’s one thing to say that you need to have resiliency. It’s another thing to know how to be resilient.
On one hand, resiliency is like any other trait or characteristic. Some people inherently have it, while others do not. To put it another way, some people are naturally more resilient than others. But if you’re not one of those lucky few, there’s still good news.
You can train yourself to become more resilient. It’s not easy, but it can be done. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities to train. That’s because there is no end to the adversity that exists in people’s professional (and personal) lives.
Below are four BIG things that resilient people do:
#1—They don’t allow their circumstances to control them.
Basically, this means they don’t allow their circumstances to control their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Ultimately, you have 0% control over what happens to you in life. However, you do have 100% control over how you react to what happens to you.
Resilient people choose to react in a certain way. With their reaction, they do not focus on the negative circumstances and they do not allow those circumstances to affect how they feel or their outlook. That, in turn, leads to a better frame of mind and plan of action.
#2—They look for opportunities in adversity.
Instead of allowing adversity to control them, resilient people look for the opportunities that exist. It may sound crazy to somebody not accustomed to doing this, but there is almost always an opportunity in such a situation. The key is to be patient enough to identify it and then bold enough to act upon it once you have. This is the best way to “turn the tables” on unfavorable circumstances and instead tip the balance of power in your favor.
#3—They lean on other people when necessary.
You might have this vision of a resilient person as a “lone wolf.” That’s just an attractive piece of fiction. It does not mirror reality. In reality, resilient people know that they need the help and support of others. They’re aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and they know when to rely upon others in order to counteract the effects of the latter.
#4—They prepare themselves fully for situations.
You’re probably heard this phrase before: “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.” Those people who are prepared for situations are more likely to have contingency plans in case something goes wrong. It’s often not a matter of “if” something will go wrong, but more a matter of “when” it will go wrong. When you’re prepared for something going wrong, then you’re better able to deal with it.
Do you engage in the four actions outlined above? If so, how well do you engage in them? In which ones do you need to improve?
You can become more resilient. And once you do, you’ll give yourself an edge in the workplace and the marketplace. That edge could become the advantage you need to take your career to the next level.