Simple Steps to Build Team ResilienceKristen Renée Lindsay, PhDInterim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment & Student Services

NACADA Annual Conference 2018

Resilience:

“the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.”

-The American Psychological Association

Resilience:

“the art of keeping your balance while kicking the butt of what’s landed in your way.”

-Hallmark Marketing Company LLC

Resilience:

Emotional Intelligence

Energy Management

Connections

Perspective

Purpose, Values, & Strengths

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

•Self-awareness

•Self-regulation

•Motivation

•Empathy

•Social Skills

13 Signs of High Emotional Intelligence (Justin Bariso, Inc.)

• You think about feelings

• You pause

• You strive to control your thoughts

• You benefit from criticism

• You demonstrate empathy

• You praise others

• You give helpful feedback

• You apologize

• You forgive and forget

• You keep your commitments

• You help others

• You protect yourself from emotional sabotage

Energy Management

What Energy Levels Do You Experience Most Often?

Four Phases of Workplace Energy

Excitement

• Lasts less than 90 days

• “Honeymoon Period”

Frustration

• Work piles up and high expectations hit home

• Reality sets in

Looking

• Searching for excuses, options, answers, and scapegoats

• May begin seeking greener pastures

Recommitment

• Acceptance

• Settle into a new routine

• Adapt attitude to survive and thrive

HIGH LOW LOWHIGH

Energy ManagementDeskerciseShared Snack BreakMindfulnessYogaMeditationRandom ComplimentsExcitement MeterWhine & CheeseSpontaneous Field Trip

3 Ways to Recommit to Your Job (peacefuldumpling.com)

1. Choose productive routines• Read a daily advising blog or inspirational quote

• Practice a new skills

• Check in regularly with a colleague or mentor

2. Live in the present and take things one day at a time• Focus on no more than three majors tasks each day

• Daily and weekly schedule versus long-term goals

3. Resist the placeholder mentality• Your real life is now!

• Own your work

Connections

Connection to Job

Level One: pay & benefits

Level Two: like the work & like the people

Level Three: contribute to a greater good

Generational Expectations

Effective Praise• Immediate if possible

• Specific and appropriate to person and event

• Sincere and heartfelt

• Spontaneous

• Unique to each individual

MANIC MONDAY

Shared Memories

PRACTICAL JOKES

Craft Lunch

RandomHoliday

gamestorming

PerspectivePutting Your Professional Existence in Perspective:

Stop thinking about every single little “what if”

Stop perceiving every failure as a catastrophe (commonly referred to as catastrophizing)

Stop denying reality; hold onto reality with flexible fingers

Stop stomping on those rose colored glasses

Practice Being Grateful!

Avoid Blaming and Complaining!

Positive People Are Resilient….

Positive People Typically….• Rely on a solid support system comprised of family and friends

• Contribute to the lives of others

• Control their own lives and do not attempt to control the lives of others

• Care for themselves through exercise and other self-care activities

• Report a religious or spiritual connection

• Take pleasure in music and other artistic endeavors

• Participate in leisure activities

• Can enjoy a good meal

Purpose, Values, & Strength

Vision Board

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Visual Aid

Resilience Self-Assessment

Use an assessment document to set some goals!

GRIT Scale

Not just for students anymore!

Additional Recommendations• Select a Happiness Trainer or appoint the Motivation Police– Plan a weekly happy activity

– Try catching people in the act of doing something good

• Make use of mentoring– Perhaps there is a local group or campus program

– Set up your own program with several departments

• Embrace and encourage creativity– Set aside 10 minutes each week for game-storming

– Word of the meeting or Meeting Bingo

– Initiate a perpetual award for positivity