5 Characteristics of Stress-Resilient People (and How to Develop Them)
Summary.
It’s not unusual for our stress levels to spike during career transitions like moving from school into the workforce, taking on a new role, or switching fields. Even when we know high stress is a part of the job and understand it will be temporary, our stress can become debilitating if we lack the tools to manage it. Here are the top five characteristics and behaviors stress-resilient leaders practice, along with tips for how to develop each one.
- They have a positive, optimistic outlook. When people with an optimistic outlook experience setbacks and challenges, they believe it’s a temporary state. The idea is to maintain a level of emotional equilibrium when reacting to high-stress events at work.
- They take a problem-solving approach to stress. The key to developing this approach involves regulating your instinctual emotions (not just your thoughts). If you’re caught up in strong emotion and need to quickly calm down, deep, diaphragmatic breathing can help.
- They focus on what they can control. In stressful moments, look for what you can control, then pause and give it your full attention. This will lead you towards a thoughtful response rather than an immediate reaction.
- They are adaptable and flexible. When you’re faced with a big change, instead of defaulting to narrow, self-limiting thinking, ask: What new opportunities will this change present?
- They have strong relationships. To strengthen the quality of your relationships, listen to others with your full attention, provide positive feedback, and express appreciation to others.
Devon was hired into a director-level position at a global financial services firm immediately upon earning her MBA. A star former student, she completed her leadership training before her first day and was confident in her ability to hit the ground running. Six months later, however, she worried she had made a big mistake. The stress of the job was weighing her down. She found it difficult to focus most days and lay awake during the nights, second-guessing her decisions.