5 Tips to Resilience in The Face of Adversity

by Mar 31, 2020

Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back after adversity. 

I figured we could all use some reminders on how to build up our resilience, so here are four key actions you absolutely must take if you intend to bounce back from the mess we’re all in. 

The 5-minute video is about building connections, finding purpose and making a plan, taking care of yourself, and using this opportunity to make some self-discoveries. 

I consider myself a little bit of an expert in resilience thanks to a near-death experience. All four of these tips definitely got me through it.

 

Here are Some Tips to Resilience in The Face of Adversity

Build connections.

Now more than ever you should be reaching out to your network. Have virtual happy hour with co-workers or friends, attend online networking groups, and get together with a mastermind group. 

I was so thankful for my mastermind meeting last week because I heard some things I really needed to hear. After explaining how I’ve been feeling about some lost opportunities, one person suggested that I grieve my old company vision so that I could replace it with a new vision. I so needed that advice! I’m purposefully taking time to grieve what could’ve been, but am also excitedly forming a new what could be.

Accepting change, by the way, is another action resilient people take.

Find purpose and build a plan

Resilient people get clear on what they need to do right now, so that they can create a plan and execute it. They plan, execute, plan, execute, and plan, execute themselves all the way of the hole their challenge has gotten them into.

Doing this provides hope, and a sense of control over something you can’t control (like COVID-19 and its aftermath).

Take care of yourself

Resilient people avoid negativity, and they focus on mental and physical self-care. Perhaps right now this means avoiding the news for a few days, and avoiding people who are emotionally draining to interact with. Seek out positive information, advice, and people, and you’ll easily feel better about the situation you’re in. Find ways to exercise in your home – maybe do some YouTube yoga with your family, or workout with your co-workers. 

Use this as an opportunity to make some self-discovery.

When I was in my accident, a mentor told me that how I responded to the situation was real insight into who I am as a person. She said that right after the accident, I would’ve been operating from a place of instinct rather than reason. And the fact that I wasn’t running around flailing my arms and screaming bloody murder was a sign that I was (and am) the type of person who could lead people through adversity.

My instinct was to sit down and take some time to comprehend what had just happened to me, so that I could make calculated decisions about next steps. Mind you, this was all happening immediately after being hit by 150 tons going 35 miles per hour.

I take comfort in the fact that I know I have what it takes to get through this. And you should take comfort in the fact that you too have what it takes to get through this.

Use this time to journal, think, reflect, and figure it out. What kind of person might you be right now? And what kind of person might you be in a zombie apocalypse? 

I’ve got a few things brewing to help you make connections, build a plan and stay positive. 

GROUP DISCUSSION ON OVERCOMING CHALLENGES OF COVID-19

This is a mastermind group format made up of HR professionals, leaders, consultants and business owners. It’s free, and we’ll discuss our challenges, provide each other advice, and hear what other organizations are doing.

Sign up for the first one here. It’s Friday the 3rd at 9 am.  

LIVE WEBINAR ON COMPLIANCE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNICATION DURING COVID-19

Find purpose and build a plan with information from tomorrow’s webinar: Compliance, Culture and Communication During Coronavirus. We’ve got employment law attorney Jenna Leyton-Jones on deck, and she and I will review the new laws and guidelines along with tips for managing your workforce.

 

Let’s create a plan to build a positive workplace! | Invite Catherine to speak

Civility is the platform for organizational success—it is absolutely necessary for an organization to reach its goals. Download our Ebook on Seeking Civility to learn more on how to create a workplace free of bullying and abusive conduct.

 

Catherine

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500s to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author, and blogger and has 60+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning.  Her fourth book, Navigating Toxic Work Environments For Dummies (Wiley), is available in all major bookstores and where audiobooks are sold.

Is Your L&D Equipped to Support a Healthy Workplace?

Learning and Development (L&D) teams are drowning in activity. Leadership academies, compliance refreshers, microlearning libraries, LMS migrations, another platform, another rollout, another “strategic priority.” Motion is constant and it may be keeping your...

Culture Eats Your Policies for Breakfast

If I see or hear the quote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” by Peter Drucker one more time, I might vomit. Everyone loves this phrase, but I’m convinced no one knows what it even means. If they did, Civility Partners would be out of a job. While I haven’t read...

Navigating a Toxic Workplace: Practical Strategies for Leaders, HR, and Employees

When toxic behavior - such as gossip, harsh sarcasm, incivility, rudeness, public shaming, serial interrupting, microaggressions, and unresolved conflict - is brushed off as personality differences or “not that bad” it normalizes the behavior. As leaders look the...

Start the Year on a Good Note (Literally): Your Workplace Playlist

Research consistently shows that music affects how our brains process emotion, connection, and stress. According to the American Psychological Association, music can reduce cortisol levels, helping lower stress and anxiety while improving emotional regulation. In...

Celebrating Your 2025 Wins!

Have you stopped to pause and appreciate everything you’ve accomplished this year? Were you able to make some strides on improving your culture? Did you finally get that one initiative approved that you’ve been working on for a while? Or maybe you finally finished out...

HR in 2025: A Year in Review

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s hard not to look back and notice just how much the world of HR has been in motion.  This year revealed an incredible amount of resilience, creativity, and heart across the profession. Many of you worked quietly behind the scenes,...

’Tis the Season for Boundaries: Protecting Your Time and Well-Being This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time to rest, connect, and reflect. But for many employees, it can also feel overwhelming.  Work seems to speed up instead of slow down thanks to the “vacation tax” that comes with time off. Projects pile up, deadlines tighten, and expectations...

A Year of Appreciation: What We’re Grateful For at Civility Partners

As we approach the holiday season, our team at Civility Partners is taking a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect on what we’re most grateful for.  Our mission has always been clear: to partner with our clients to help them create a positive workplace environment....

Civility Partners vs. Korn Ferry & EY: What Sets Us Apart

Recently I was asked the question on a podcast: “What do people get when they work with Civility Partners? My answer: “You’ll get direct, honest and empathetic information. We care very much about our mission to create work environments across the globe where people...

Speak Like a CEO, Lead Like HR: Power Language That Drives Culture Change

Last week, we gave you tips on how to make a business case for culture change. Did you try it yet? How did it go? As we were brainstorming for this week's newsletter, we realized that part two is in order, and it’s all about how you present the amazing business case...