Resilience - What is it exactly & how resilient are you?

Jakob Hysek
16 hours ago
3 min read

Drawing of a person who is subjected to various influences in the form of flashes of light, but who remains steadfast and builds a shield! — “Resilience is the ability to cope with the challenges, problems and setbacks you face in life, and to become stronger because of them.

You're living in challenging times—whether it's changes in the workplace, in global and geopolitical affairs, in the climate, or in your personal relationships, a lot is going on and changing at the moment.

Just staying afloat sometimes feels challenging already.

Resilience can help, but what is it exactly?

Definition of Resilience

“Resilience is the ability to cope with the challenges, problems and setbacks you face in life, and to become stronger because of them.

Resilience is a mindset - an “inside job.” It requires adaptability and the relentless pursuit of an idea or goal in the face of obstacles. Your level of resilience is reflected in your personal brand.”

Characteristics of resilience:

strong self-esteem, self-efficacy, make personal goals, have a sense of meaningfulness, use past successes to inform current challenges, view stress as a challenge - a way to get stronger, use humor, patience, tolerance and optimism, adapt to change, take an action-oriented approach, have strong relationships and ask for help, have patience.

Resilience Assessment

With the following exercise, you can assess how resilient you are and identify which situations still pose a particular challenge for you.

Afterward, you can develop a plan for your personal growth!

Try assessing yourself based on the following statements:

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
In a crisis, I calm myself and focus on taking useful actions.	1	2	3	4	5
I am optimistic and see difficulties as challenges.	1	2	3	4	5
I can cope with high levels of uncertainty in most situations.	1	2	3	4	5
I adapt quickly to new developments.	1	2	3	4	5
I am generally relaxed and keep things in perspective.	1	2	3	4	5
I can recover quickly from losses and setbacks.	1	2	3	4	5
I feel self-confident and value my knowledge and skills.	1	2	3	4	5
I like to try new ways of doing things.	1	2	3	4	5
I learn valuable lessons from my own experiences and from those of others.	1	2	3	4	5
I’m good at solving problems. I can use logic, creativity, or practical common sense.	1	2	3	4	5
I am a good listener. I have good empathy skills.	1	2	3	4	5
I hold up well during difficult times and help others to cope as well.	1	2	3	4	5
I have become stronger and more self-aware by going through challenging experiences.	1	2	3	4	5
I can convert negative into positive learning opportunities.	1	2	3	4	5
Total Score: ____________

How many points did you score?

13-32:

You have a habit of seeing things as your fault and you tend to give up your control in many situations. Taking this assessment is the first step toward turning your pessimism around.

33-50:

You try to be optimistic; however, some situations get the better of you. Try to identify your triggers for negative thinking and use rational thinking exercises to become naturally more optimistic.

51-70:

You have a generally optimistic outlook on life. You don’t take things personally and you are able to see that setbacks can be managed.

Based on your assessment results:

What are your areas of strength?

What are your areas for development?

With a partner:

What’s the importance of resilience in your work (life)?
Where can you improve?

Worksheet "Resilience Assessment"

You can download a worksheet for the resilience assessment here and do the exercise with a friend or partner:

Where are you at the moment?

Resilience is a skill and a mindset. These are things you can develop—they aren't just innate. Think about where you stand right now and which areas you'd like to work on.

If you need help, I'd love to hear from you!

About Me

After more than ten years in the international software and start-up world, I know the pressure to perform in modern careers.

As a systemic coach and reserve soldier, I know how important clear communication, accountability, and trust are for teams to function effectively.

More About Me

That's why I support teams in skilled trades, construction, and industry to improve their collaboration, resolve conflicts, and rekindle motivation—in a pragmatic, human way and with a passion for development.

Are you ready for the next step?

Whether it is a conflict in your team, a lack of motivation, or communication issues. The first step for change is always a conversation. So let's have one:

Introduction

We will address your questions in a 15-minute conversation and determine whether and how we can work together.

I look forward to getting to know you!