Resilience is the ability to bounce back from failure, disappointment, illness, etc. It is a characteristic commonly found in individuals who live longer than average lives. It is also very common in highly successful individuals.

IT people are flooded with issues, challenges, disappointments and even some “viruses”. As CEO of Remote DBA Experts, I've learned that there are many benefits to being highly resilient in the IT world. Thus, developing resilience could be a worthwhile effort for those interested in doing better in the IT world.

Some failures, disappointments, and illnesses naturally drag us down. We all go through these situations. However, the more resilient individuals develop the ability to bounce back faster, and sometimes stronger, than those less resilient. The magnitude and duration of the matter that require us to be resilient are key considerations. It is not that highly resilient folks do not get affected, but it is that they are more capable of reducing the time they are “down” and the magnitude of the situation that takes them “down”.

The first step in the process of becoming more resilient is to become aware of our level of resiliency. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• How resilient have you been thus far?
• What are the types of situations that affect you most?
• When and where are you most affected?
• Who has a bigger impact (positive or negative) on your resilience?

The next step is to establish the value of resilience. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• What has been the impact of lower resilience in me and others I care about?
• What would be better for me or others I care about if I could bounce back faster/better?
• What more can I accomplish if I were able to bounce back faster/better?

Now that you see value in becoming more resilient based on the responses to the questions above, you should have one or several good reasons to embark on a resilience-enhancing effort. The key is to recognize that resilience is a habit. It needs more energy to change the longer it has been active. With that in mind, you need to develop a strong desire for more resilience in order to break-through the “old” resilience habit. The strength of desire comes from the best reasons you can muster from the questions above. That energizes your effort and helps overcome the natural tendencies of the “old” habit.

As for ways to get out of “the hole”, after we recognize we are in one, try to explore the meanings surrounding the situation. It is usually the meaning we give things that leads us to feel a certain way about them. Find help from positive outlook individuals who can help you see a way out. Avoid those who tend to be less positive. Stay away from them! And do not confuse realistic positions with either pessimistic or optimistic ones coming from either of them. A final point: Some of us get more affected than we should by things we cannot control. Those things are not worth it because you can’t change them. Thus, letting them affect you makes no sense! Keep your eyes and ears wide open for them. Stay focused on the things that are (most) important and relevant to your roles and responsibilities, and are in your “control”.

Resilience is like a muscle --- The more you exercise it the stronger it can get! You need to practice, practice, and practice!!!

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