BUILDING RESILIENCY

It may be human nature to resist change—particularly when it’s delivered as a hardship, disappointment, or rejection. But by developing resiliency managers can not only survive change, but also learn, grow, and thrive in it. In fact, for leaders, developing resiliency is critical. Resiliency helps managers deal with the pressures and uncertainties of being in charge in organizations today. This guidebook defines resiliency, explains why it’s important, and describes how you can develop your own store of resiliency. It focuses on nine developmental components that, taken together, create a sense of resiliency and increase your ability to handle the unknown and to view change—whether from disappointment or success—as an opportunity for development.

This series of guidebooks draws on the practical knowledge that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has generated, since its inception in 1970, through its research and educational activity conducted in partnership with hundreds of thousands of managers and executives. Much of this knowledge is shared-in a way that is distinct from the typical university department, professional association, or consultancy. CCL is not simply a collection of individual experts, although the individual credentials of its staff are impressive; rather it is a community, with its members holding certain principles in common and working together to understand and generate practical responses to today's leadership and organizational challenges.
The purpose of the series is to provide managers with specific advice on how to complete a developmental task or solve a leadership challenge. In doing that, the series carries out CCL's mission to advance the understanding, practice, and development of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.

Mary Lynn Pulley has researched, taught, and spoken about resiliency in the workplace since 1994. Currently a senior program associate at CCL, she holds an Ed.D. in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt University.

Michael Wakefield is a manager of trainer development at CCL. He holds an M.A. in psychology from Lone Mountain College (now part of the University of San Francisco), is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, and is licensed as a Professional Counselor.