As we hit that midyear crunch, the intensity and pressure at work increases as we strive to meet all our annual goals and KPIs within the six months left to the year. This is a time when we heavily rely on our resilient skills. Being a resilient professional in fast-paced and demanding work environments is a journey that requires self-awareness, perseverance, and a proactive mindset but I’ve always wondered if resilience has a connection to the nature of our personal relationships, family base and network. I have a theory…
Resilience from an organizational viewpoint, can often appear to be a tick box exercise. If you do this, then that will happen or it becomes a list of things that you must do, to build it. If you want to build resilience, it is because you want to wade through tough and challenging circumstances when you’re at your wits end or your cup is not as full as it would be in the beginning of the year or after an energizing period/ break/ time of relaxation. It is like a set of circumstances that comes together to lay a solid foundation, supporting you during challenging times. I believe that it is essentially, the strength of your personal network. That fundamentally, resilience is an indicator of the quality of your life.
Therefore, this leads me to believe that there is a distinct connection between being resilient, and the quality of your personal relationships, which plays a crucial role in your ability to navigate challenges at work, more efficiently and effectively.
Here are a few suggestions of how they interconnect.
Personal relationships and networks provide:
- Emotional support: when we face difficulties at work or in other areas of life, having a supportive family structure or personal network, offers a safe space to express emotions, seek advice, and receive encouragement. Home based emotional support will bolster your resilience and help you cope better with stress and adversity because you are not alone in your challenges and worries.
- A sense of belonging: knowing that there are people that accept, love and value you unconditionally can provide a strong foundation of support and stability. Encouraging you to face challenges and difficult times at work, with a greater sense of confidence and self-assuredness.
- Role models and mentors: positive and proactive role models and mentors can give you guidance, advice, and inspiration during times of professional adversity and challenges. This helps you navigate the work environment with a friend that may have already experienced something similar. This is another way to tap into peer review.
- Security: healthy personal relationships and networks, provide a sense of security and stability. Knowing that there are people that you can turn to and find comfort, understanding and support, is crucial in building your resilience skills. This sense of security serves as an anchor, which will encourage you to take risks, face uncertainties, and bounce back from setbacks at work.
- Community: a sound and stable home environment can act as a launching pad for building a broader support network. When you have a solid foundation at home, you will have the confidence and emotional resources to seek and develop relationships with your colleagues, mentors, and friends. This expanded support network provides additional sources of resilience and fosters a sense of community.
While a healthy community and support network cannot eliminate all professional challenges, it can significantly enhance your ability to navigate and overcome them. The key points mentioned, all contribute to your overall resilience and capacity to face and conquer professional obstacles. It was the Relationship Expert, Esther Perel that said the quality of your life is based on the quality of your relationships. Which she describes as a basic reflection of one’s sense of decency, empathy, and generosity. Be cognizant of the nature of the relationships you keep, its state (is it healthy or toxic?), as it has a direct influence on your energy and ability to cope during challenging and trying times at work.
I hope you enjoyed this piece. Please comment if you agree or disagree with my theory. Thanks!
