RESILIENCE

As I look out the window I am watching the window blow against and through my favorite tree in the yard. It is a glorious maple. I have plenty of room to sit under its expansive canopy. Earlier today the wind was more gentle causing the thinner limbs to sway lazily as the wind was caught by the leaves and then relaxing back in place as the wind eased. Now, the wind has increased its force and the limb now bend more and dance more vigorously. The increasing wind portends the approach of the possibility of a storm. Thankfully the limbs are supple and maintain enough ability to bend and come back into place without breaking.

Over the year of gentle and strong winds the limbs of the tree have developed resilience. If they never had the wind gently and strongly blowing them about there would be no resilience. Without resilience the limbs were to suddenly encounter a strong wind the limbs would most likely snap. Over time with mild and gusty winds the fibers of the limbs have developed the strength whipping back and forth of more robust winds.

Organizations and people build resilience as we encounter the gentle and strong winds which blow against us. As we are pushed out of our comfort zones and then regain our position. Small challenges, disruptions to our stability, and overcoming them strengthens us to endure the next more resistant challenges. The unexpected flat tire or leak in the roof challenges us to figure out how to deal with the non-budgeted expense. Each small challenge which comes our way strengthens us in problem solving skills. Building resilience enables us to deal with larger problems without breaking.

Drawing on our experience of handling the disorientating events of the past gives us clues in handling the troublesome events of the present day. “What did you do the last time your car broke down?” “How did that work out?” “Not so good.” “What would you have done differently then?” “Oh, you would have called AAA instead of hitch-hiking twenty miles.” “So, you would have called for help instead of trying to resolve it yourself?” “Wasn’t walking along the road with you thumb sticking out a way of asking for help?” “Facing this issue, what from the time your car broke down can you apply to this situation?” “Well, I guess I could ask for help.” “Who would you call?” “I could call that company called TECH GUYS ARE US.” “How important is it to get your computer up and running sooner rather than later?” “I do have that report to finish by next Thursday.” How long will it take you to finish the report?” “This is Thursday of this week. When do you plan to call the Tech Guys?” “I think I better call them know. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for them to get here.” “Good, will you let me know when the report is finished so I can celebrate with you?” “That would be fun. I’ll call you.”

The winds blow against us. Sometimes the winds are gentle and we sway from our place of comfort to a new position and then back to where we were. The swaying strengthens us for the time when the winds blow with greater intensity. Resilience is what keeps us from breaking.