Building resilience into successful business ventures

LAST Friday I was pleased to be part of a breakfast function at Sunrise Way.

Pip Courtney from ABC Landline was guest speaker.

Pip’s topic was resilience – which was very apt given what Sunrise Way is doing in supporting our community through rebuilding lives affected by addiction.

It got me thinking about resilience in business.

Resilience is often defined as the ability to bounce back or recover well from change, the ability to carry on regardless of what life throws at us, to see change as an opportunity for growth and have a calm confidence in our own ability to cope.

For those of us in business – resilience is an essential in our tool kit if we are to survive.

The research around resilience points to four key characteristics that we need:

1. Confidence: Resilient people feel competent. They have effective strategies for coping with stress. 2. Purpose: Resilient people have a clear sense of purpose and clear values. They are persistent when setbacks happen 3. Social Support: Resilient people build good relationships with others

4. Adaptability: Resilient people are flexible and adaptable to changing situations which are beyond their control. They choose their battles wisely.

So make sure you work on building your positive attitudes and emotions; develop some coping strategies and establish and nurture a supportive social network.

But most of all - look after yourself !

A favourite quote from William Somerset Maugham says it all - “Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” For more chamber news, go to its website toowoombachamber.com.au. The Toowoomba chamber was established in 1899.