Facing Adversity

And Bouncing Back

Helen Keller

I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work and my God Helen Keller

What is Adversity
A state of hardship or affliction A calamitous event

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming it. All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are moveable, and those that move

Phases of Adversity
Helplessness, Anger Hurt - feeling of defeat, Do not know what to do Blaming Stage - Blame yourself, Blame others, Can tear the team apart Turn negative situation to positive ones - Take off the feeling of anger, hurt. - Channel emotions into effort and concentration.

Adversity, in the end, does not test character; it actually reveals it.

Positive Response
Focus on strength rather than weaknesses Keep High Expectations from the team Warm Involvement Effective team building Self Care

Crisis Management
Do not whine, Its not fair Fault Finding Only to avoid future mishaps The Cover up Fear of consequences The above responses are not agile as they are focused on problems rather than resolutions

Agility in Adversity
See it clearly, acknowledge it

Think, analyze, develop a plan of action

Think aggressively to create several alternate paths

Communicate all the stake holders, keep people informed

DO not appear panicked

Accept accountability, honesty is the best policy

Act with a laser like focus

Instinct and agility

Organisms Sense and Respond
Streams of data into eyes, ears, touch, smell, taste

Central nervous system detects the rare event that is a threat or an opportunity

Organism responds appropriately to threat or opportunity

Benefits of adversity
Adversity creates resilience.

Adversity develops maturity.

Adversity pushes the envelope of accepted performance.

Adversity provides greater opportunities.

Adversity prompts innovation.

Adversity motivates

The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top.

Adversity Response Profile

The Adversity Response Profile is a simple, sophisticated and scientifically validated way to measure key aspects of EQ or Emotional Intelligence. Control: the amount of control you perceive you have over adverse events and their effects, Ownership: the extent you own the outcomes of adversity and your responses to it

Reach: the degree to which you let adversity reach into other areas of your life
Endurance: how long you perceive the adversity will last or endure.

Adversity Response Profile

Increase your optimism
Increase your resilience

Helps you increase your capacity to create desired results

Develop an agile, vision-driven, adversity-resilient culture

Adversity Quotient
Your success in your work and in life is largely determined by your Adversity Quotient (AQ) AQ is a sophisticated measurement of the core skills of Emotional Intelligence.

AQ is a new conceptual framework for understanding and enhancing all facets of success.
AQ is a measure of how you respond to adversity. AQ is a scientifically-grounded set of tools for improving how you respond to adversity

Adversity Quotient

What is Resilience?
Resilience
The ability to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenge Strength in rebounding from crisis and overcoming persistent challenges Bouncing forward not springing back Life is full of ups and downs We all face daily struggles, conflicts and have coped with them!

Resilience Key Processes

BELIEF SYSTEMS
ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS

COMMUNICATION & PROBLEM SOLVING

Resilience Belief Systems

Making meaning of adversity

View resilience as relationally based vs. rugged individual Normalize, contextualize adversity and distress
Sense of coherence: crisis as meaningful, comprehensible, manageable challenge Causal/explanatory attributions: How could this happen? What can be done?

Resilience Belief Systems

Positive Outlook

Hope, optimistic bias; confidence in overcoming odds

Courage and en-courage-ment; affirm strengths and focus on potential Active initiative and can-do spirit Master the possible; accept what cant be changed

Resilience Belief Systems

Spirituality Larger values, purpose

Spirituality: faith, congregational support, healing rituals

Inspiration: envision new possibilities; creative expression; social action Transformation: learning, change, and growth from adversity

Resilience Organizational Patterns

Flexibility Open to change: rebound, reorganize, adapt to fit new challenges Stability through disruption: continuity, dependability, followthrough Strong authoritative leadership: nurturance, protection, guidance Varied family forms: Cooperative caring teams

Resilience Organizational Patterns

Connectedness Mutual support, collaboration, and commitment

Respect individual needs, differences, and boundaries

Seek reconnection, reconciliation of wounded relationships

Resilience Organizational Patterns

Social and Economic Resources Mobilize kin, social, and community networks; seek models and mentors Build financial security; balance work/ family strains

Communication/Problem Solving
Open Emotional Expression
Share range of feelings Mutual empathy; tolerance for differences Take responsibility for own feelings, behavior; avoid blaming Pleasurable interactions; humor

Communication/Problem Solving
Collaborative Problem Solving Creative brainstorming; resourcefulness Shared decision making; conflict resolution: negotiation, fairness, reciprocity Focus on goals; take concrete steps; build on success; learn from failure Proactive stance: prevent problems; avert crises; prepare for future challenges

Vulnerability vs. Resiliency

Life is full of ups and downs We all face daily struggles, conflicts and have coped with them!

We survive on adversity and perish in ease and comfort

Resume of Abraham Lincoln

1831: Started his first business - went bankrupt. 1832: Ran for State Legislature - lost 1832: Applied for Law school - rejected 1833: Began a second business on borrowed money - went bankrupt. 1834: Ran for state legislature again, this time he won. 1835: Engaged to be married - fiance dies. 1836: Suffered a nervous breakdown - bed ridden for sixth months. 1838: Sought to be speaker of the legislature - defeated. 1840: Sought to become elector - defeated. 1843: Ran for U.S. Congress - lost. 1846: Ran for Congress again - won. 1848: Ran for re-election to Congress - lost. 1854: Ran for the U.S. Senate - lost. 1856: Sought the Vice-Presidency - lost. 1858: Ran for the Senate again - lost. 1860: Elected president of the United States of America.

Take Charge!

avoiding the problem usually does not help

Stay cool, calm & collected Manage your attitude & behavior Find ways to solve the problem when you are in control and have a plan!

Think Positively!
An Optimistic outlook is helpful!
A Hopeful perspective makes a difference

Positive thinking makes it so!

See yourself as achieving and succeeding!

Dark clouds do have silver linings

Resiliency Expert Tip

Use the Serenity Prayer God, Grant me the Serenity to Accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Resiliency Expert Tip

Try a new approach or strategy when old ones are not working or fail!

Resiliency Expert Tip

Equip your mind and body to deal with stresses that come your way!

Can best handle problems when body, spirit & mind are nourished

The Mirror Test

Establish youre your integral daily practice

Wake up and get up early stretch, mirror test, relaxation/breathing Breakfast eggs, fruit, oat cereal, nuts, fluid Aerobic Activity Walk, gym, run, swim, yoga Regular lunch
soup, greens, beans, fruit and Powernap

Relax on way home Relaxation/breathing, music

Light evening meal Veggies, beans, fish

Early to bed - Read, talk, Watch a movie

Questions /Comments/Suggestions

Thank you