We are certainly going through a period of significant upheaval and at present “the light at the end of the tunnel has temporarily been extinguished”.
I work with individuals, leaders and teams to support them develop resilience and mental toughness and a colleague from across the sea in the UK provided this great article. A great read from Anthony Taylor.
What the Covid-19 outbreak has shown is that some people do better during these times than others. There are certain protective traits and helpful skills that can make it easier to manage and even thrive in challenging times.
The following eight will play a significant role in someone's ability to cope.
Dealing with Ambiguity
The best way to deal with ambiguity is to remove it where possible. To do that draw on your knowledge, experience resources and even intuition in order to plan a way forward. It might only be edging forward, but forward is still forward. Most people are more resilient than they give themselves credit for but they stop thinking in a crisis.
The more thinking and planning you can do as to actions you can take the more in control you feel. Grab a pen and brainstorm as many ideas as you can. Some will be good, some won't and that's OK.
Chunk problems and solutions down into bite-sized pieces. They'll feel more manageable that way and you'll feel more in control.
Locus of Control
People with a higher degree of locus of control do better. Simples. If you really believe you have no control over your life, it's worth exploring where that comes from. In reality, there are only two things that we can control. Our mindset and our actions.
We don't even control our thoughts. Try not thinking about your favourite food when you are hungry! So, grab a pen again and ask yourself these three questions:
What don't I control here?
What am I trying to control?
What could I control that I'm not currently?
Perspective
"If you can keep your head when all around you..." you know how the rest goes. We all have an amazing ability to keep things in perspective...and the ability to completely lose it. When we maintain a healthy perspective we make better decisions. We act out of thought and not fear. We respond not react.
To help with this think about your priorities and be willing to change a few around. You can change them back again later.
Critical Thinking
This is a key life skill for everyone yet few of us do as much of it as we should. To think more critically challenge assumptions and ask questions, of yourself, of what's important, of what others tell you and of what you thought you could or could not do.
You might be seen as a little challenging, so doing it with emotional intelligence and kindness will help. Both to yourself and others. What assumptions have you been living with that don't serve you on the current climate?
Coping Skills
Stress rises in times like this and stress affects us in four ways: mentally, physically, emotionally and behaviourally. Those that have resilience have a developed set of coping skills. some of which come from what we've covered already. Others might include self-care such as getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy food. Don't forget connection to other people, using whatever means are available and safe. Keeping your mind busy is key here is a good daily routine.
Hardiness
This is the ability to remain resilient and bounce back from hardship. It's a part of mental toughness. It starts with managing our emotions, focusing on what we can control and set some clear goals. Keep an eye on the future and where you are going. On the days you get frustrated, ask yourself this kind of question: "Will this matter one year, three years or five years from now?"
Look to ways in which you can a little bit of fun in the mundane. Get creative. Remember that happiness is a state of mind and not a destination.
Community Values
The power of values as a protective factor in times of hardship can not be overstated. We saw the worst elements of human behaviour from the people bulk-buying bog roll and we've seen the best from a great many people. Not least the legend that is Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year old war vet who is walking 100 lengths of his garden for the NHS and has raised a staggering $12m and counting!
Take a little time to think about your values and re-connect with some of them if needs be. The more we live in alignment with our values the happier and more resilient we are.
Common Sense
This may be as rare as pixie dust but it's still important. This skill helps people orientate themselves in new circumstances. It helps you make smart judgment calls and keeps you safe. Common sense is nothing more than the ability to apply practical and intuitive knowledge that is not necessarily related to formal education.
So, there you have it, eight traits and skills that will help you get through this pandemic.
Want to know more about bouncing forward during change and uncertainty? Send me an email at michelle@bakjacconsulting.com to enquire about coaching to build your personal strategies.
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ48 accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals and organisations to develop their Mental Toughness to improve performance, leadership, behaviour and wellbeing. You can find her at www.bakjacconsulting.com or michelle@bakjacconsulting.com
