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The Two "R’s" – Recession and Resilience – Which Will You Choose?

Psychologists studying stress in the workplace have done over 400 studies on “Resilience” and what keeps individuals in a company healthy despite adversity. Here is a summary of their findings you can use as a checklist to get through a projected business downturn or recession....

Years go when I was in the corporate world and working as a division head in a publishing company in NY, the country was edging towards a recession. Being in the media business, we got, and read, all the reports coming in over the wires (yes, believe it or not it was pre-internet as we know it.)

Gerry Leeds, the president of CMP Media, and my boss at the time, knew and understood the power of shared vision. After all, he and his co-president wife Lilo had built this multi million dollar, “best-company-to-work-for” business from scratch with a clear picture of success in mind.

As gloomy reports of recession kept pouring in in the late 1980’s, Gerry and Lilo pulled their executive team together for a meeting. He informed us in no uncertain terms that if a recession should occur, we “would not be participating.” He encouraged us to go back to our respective divisions and get smart about where we could save, get educated about what our clients’ plans were and how we could help them achieve their goals, and look to create more efficient businesses.

He clearly set the tone. No recession. Not here. He gave us a clear vision about collectively riding out the storm – getting ahead of the wave, getting ahead of the competition, and keeping fear at bay by keeping our attitudes strong and confident in our abilities as leaders in our field. He and Lilo set the stage for what I have now come to know as resilience.

I won’t tell you that we didn’t feel any effects of an economic downturn at that time, because we did. I won’t tell you that we weren’t, further into slower times, asked to cut our budgets, because we were. But I will tell you that because our attitudes and mindsets were focused on thriving – despite of what was going on in the world around us – we were able to weather that storm and come out if it stronger than we went into it.

Psychologists studying stress in the workplace have done over 400 studies on “Resilience” and what keeps individuals in a company healthy despite adversity. Here is a summary of their findings you can use as a checklist to get through this next wave of business.

Commitment
People who get through adversity well are committed to weathering it – they are committed to their work and see it as a worthwhile endeavor. They stay involved and don’t “check out.” They avoid unproductive behaviors like gossiping and dwelling on the “what’s wrong” of it. They keep their eating, drinking and whining in moderation.

You can search for ways to get better in your business, increase your skill level and that of your employees in a slow time. You can look for efficiencies and stay committed to creating value for all concerned. You can use the time to build the strength of your team.

Control
The only thing in life we have control over is how we choose to see a situation. “Thrivers” persist in having a positive influence over tough times. They know they can maintain an attitude that continues to look for good and they see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. They are oriented towards solutions. They are graceful in their acceptance of the things they cannot change and vigilant about changing the things they can – thereby maintaining a sense of control.

People who feel they are in control (even if it’s just over their own attitudes) rarely get sick as a result of adversity. Those that feel like victims frequently do.

Challenge
Change, even when not of our own making, can be exhilarating. People that are resilient embrace rather than resist change and see it as a challenge. They understand the role of fear but don’t let it control them. They use their minds to remain optimistic and have faith that “this too shall pass.” They express their optimism out loud and encourage others to do the same. They believe the seed of opportunity is inherent in every crisis.

Community
Gerry and Lilo were very smart when they called their exec team together to discuss the “framing” of what was to be a recession. They knew that by getting all our thinking on the same page and encouraging us to do the same with our teams we were in it together.

Psychologists have found that when you combine Commitment, Control and Challenge with a sense of Community you have the formula for a state they term “Hardiness.”

Hardiness, it turns out, is the antidote to adversity. Any business can manage stressful changes when it becomes hardier. Hardiness will help people engage in their work more fully and in some cases even help them become happier as they band together as a group focused on a common goal.

Hardiness – and the formula for it – will help you overcome the knee jerk reaction we have to fear. Allow your company, your department or your life be swept away by fear – and you lose. Stay in charge, stay on top, stay in control and even move ahead in these uncertain times and you will come out of it all stronger, wiser, healthier and wealthier.

Here’s to your Hardiness!

JoAnna

JoAnna Brandi is the author of books such as "Winning at Customer Retention - 101 Ways to Keep 'em Happy, Keep 'em Loyal, and Keep 'em Coming Back" and "Building Customer Loyalty - 21 Essential Elements in ACTION."

A Speaker and consultant, she is publisher of the bi-weekly Customer Care Tips Bulletin. To receive her free bi-weekly tips bulletin, sign up at www.returnonhappiness.com. You can also reach JoAnna at 561-279-0027 or e-mail joanna@customercarecoach.com.