A 2010 study of resilience in ecosystems identified resilience as the ability to return to an initial state after a disturbance and the ability to maintain that state during a disturbance. But continuing in an initial state can be counter-productive if that initial state is what caused the disturbance in the first place; for example,…
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Nick has just lost his job, but he’s optimistic he’ll find a new one; Morgan has just received kudos for her innovation but is pessimistic about her abilities to ever innovate like that again. The odd thing about optimism and pessimism is that they may bear almost no relation to the actual circumstances of our…
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Success is fickle: it is hard won, easily lost, and can lead to decisions that guarantee failure. Why Success Sometimes Breeds Failure When a successful company, team, or leader fails, the cause usually falls into one or more of these categories: Solidified Strategy: A strategy that is successful once is relied on over and over…
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Nick has just lost his job, but he’s optimistic he’ll find a new one; Morgan has just received kudos for her innovation, but is pessimistic about her abilities to ever innovate like that again. The odd thing about optimism and pessimism is that they may bear almost no relation to the actual circumstances of our…
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Most definitions of resiliency stress the ability to bounce back from adversity. Grit and gumption are two of the characteristics often associated with resiliency. Individually and organizationally, this translates to the ability to reach goals despite obstacles. How Important Is Grit in Reaching Your Goals? Grit, or passion and tenacity in reaching your goals,…
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The primary difference between being assertive and being aggressive is the motivation. An assertive person establishes boundaries and states opinions while respecting others. An aggressive person is wants to dominate others, with behaviors that destroy the boundaries of other people and stifles open discussion. Passive people who are the willingness to accept whatever anyone else…
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The route to a stress-free and rewarding career and life depends in great part upon the good habits we foster, including exercise, optimism, healthy eating, and mindfulness. Bad habits, however, are often easier to acquire and harder break: chocolate and cigarettes are so much more immediately satisfying than broccoli. So how do we make good…
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