Before entering the working world, I don't think I thought much about resilience.
At school, if you encountered a challenge, you just worked harder.
Tough test coming up? Study harder.
Big essay due? Stay up later.
In the professional world, there are obstacles that sometimes hard work alone won't solve: a boss who doesn't have vision and tries to block yours - a job market that feels impossible to crack - a stagnant position that begins to feel suffocating.
In cases like these, we need to be resilient.
Confidence allows for resilience.
It's the confidence that allows you to believe in yourself and your mission, to bounce back, to encounter obstacles and keep going.
When resilience is paired with creativity - the ability to map out how to move around X obstacle - a whole new world of opportunity opens up.
Ken, my old colleague who now works at Yahoo, is resilient - and creative.
It turns out that Yahoo is much more buttoned down than you or I would ever think.
It's a huge corporation, and with that, comes bureaucracy.
Employees are afraid to take risks - and that results in a fairly uncreative work environment - and a potentially stale product.
Ken is a writer - a thinker - a dreamer.
He doesn't let the rules limit him.
Case in point: Ken's not allowed to show Y image on the Yahoo homepage - but he thinks that Y would drive traffic and support the story he's promoting.
He's blocked.
But he's resilient.
He tells his colleague, the person telling him he can't show that image, that if traffic falls as a result of the image - all blame will be on him, Ken - none on this colleague.
The colleague agrees.
Next, Ken works with his manager - making the case for the image.
He reminds his manager of the many successes that his risks have resulted in thus far.
(He keeps a running list of these.
) This move will also be a success - and will be valuable information for the team and company.
If it's not, Ken will never again make this request.
(Of course, when negotiating with peers and management, diplomacy and established trust and mutual respect are essential.
) Ken's colleague and manager agree - and the story is a huge success - one of the top trafficked stories of the day - probably because of the use of Y image.
When faced with resistance from the establishment, Ken didn't back down - his commitment to his vision didn't wane - but that didn't mean he went against the company - he maintained his vision and was able to get the buy-in - or at least the willingness - of key players.
When his move played out successfully - he gained respect, credibility and value.
So what's the takeaway? -- Relationships at any workplace are key - build trust and respect with those around you.
-- When you have a vision that is not embraced by the establishment - pause - does it have the potential to make positive, measurable changes? Do you believe in it? If so, sit down with those resistant - establish why you think this move would pay off - take responsibility - make them feel that you're willing to own this process - and its consequences.
-- Trust your voice and believe in yourself.
Surround yourself with those who do, too.
At school, if you encountered a challenge, you just worked harder.
Tough test coming up? Study harder.
Big essay due? Stay up later.
In the professional world, there are obstacles that sometimes hard work alone won't solve: a boss who doesn't have vision and tries to block yours - a job market that feels impossible to crack - a stagnant position that begins to feel suffocating.
In cases like these, we need to be resilient.
Confidence allows for resilience.
It's the confidence that allows you to believe in yourself and your mission, to bounce back, to encounter obstacles and keep going.
When resilience is paired with creativity - the ability to map out how to move around X obstacle - a whole new world of opportunity opens up.
Ken, my old colleague who now works at Yahoo, is resilient - and creative.
It turns out that Yahoo is much more buttoned down than you or I would ever think.
It's a huge corporation, and with that, comes bureaucracy.
Employees are afraid to take risks - and that results in a fairly uncreative work environment - and a potentially stale product.
Ken is a writer - a thinker - a dreamer.
He doesn't let the rules limit him.
Case in point: Ken's not allowed to show Y image on the Yahoo homepage - but he thinks that Y would drive traffic and support the story he's promoting.
He's blocked.
But he's resilient.
He tells his colleague, the person telling him he can't show that image, that if traffic falls as a result of the image - all blame will be on him, Ken - none on this colleague.
The colleague agrees.
Next, Ken works with his manager - making the case for the image.
He reminds his manager of the many successes that his risks have resulted in thus far.
(He keeps a running list of these.
) This move will also be a success - and will be valuable information for the team and company.
If it's not, Ken will never again make this request.
(Of course, when negotiating with peers and management, diplomacy and established trust and mutual respect are essential.
) Ken's colleague and manager agree - and the story is a huge success - one of the top trafficked stories of the day - probably because of the use of Y image.
When faced with resistance from the establishment, Ken didn't back down - his commitment to his vision didn't wane - but that didn't mean he went against the company - he maintained his vision and was able to get the buy-in - or at least the willingness - of key players.
When his move played out successfully - he gained respect, credibility and value.
So what's the takeaway? -- Relationships at any workplace are key - build trust and respect with those around you.
-- When you have a vision that is not embraced by the establishment - pause - does it have the potential to make positive, measurable changes? Do you believe in it? If so, sit down with those resistant - establish why you think this move would pay off - take responsibility - make them feel that you're willing to own this process - and its consequences.
-- Trust your voice and believe in yourself.
Surround yourself with those who do, too.