Proactivity or Reactivity

Resilience is often revered as a superpower. The ability to recover from setbacks effortlessly. However, the constant use of our resilience can be exhausting. Every day, we brace for the next challenge and steel ourselves for the next disruption, always on alert. Whether at work or home, the demands are relentless.

Is it any surprise that we frequently feel burnt out, overwhelmed, or simply tired of always having to be strong?

It's time to rethink resilience. What if, instead of constantly bouncing back, we could prevent some challenges from happening in the first place?

Reflect on past challenges you've encountered. Each one has likely taught you something valuable if you look at it the right way. What insights did these experiences provide? How have you applied these lessons to improve your leadership and preempt future issues?

For instance, after a project took longer than expected, maybe you began to define project scopes more clearly at the start. Or, after noticing a team member was overwhelmed, you improved how tasks are delegated within your team.

Now, think about how these insights can be applied to other, upcoming projects. This might involve enhancing planning processes to anticipate and mitigate risks, conducting sessions to brainstorm proactive solutions, or improving communication so your team can confidently address small issues before they escalate.

Resilience is indeed like a muscle; it grows stronger with use but can become overtaxed if not managed well. If our lives consist merely of moving from one crisis to another, how can we sustain this? We wouldn't. We're exhausted, disconnected, and pushed to our limits.

The answer isn't just to toughen up. Connect to past experiences and learn from them. You’re not going to solve all your problems by simply being stronger; you need to start by connecting the dots from past lessons. Instead of always being on defense, let's get strategic about avoiding problems altogether.