A Research Paper By Michele Steele-Jordan, Leadership/Life Coach, UNITED STATES
Building Resilience: How Can Coaching Help Clients Build Resilience?
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History holds a plethora of stories on resilience dating back to the 1800s wherein diverse Americans from various times and backgrounds faced different crises but overcame them. The stories of resilience on the daily news often give a feel-good moment and deviation from the overwhelmingly catastrophic and depressing reports. One such story that caught my attention was retired Captain William Robinson of the US Airforce, who holds the title of the longest prisoner of war after being held captive for 8 years. Robinson survived without food and clothing and defied the odds. He gives talks to high school students centered around the simple message “Don’t give up. Find the positive in everything!”-William Robinson.
Joni Eareckson Tada, at 17 years old, experienced a diving accident that rendered her a quadriplegic and paralyzed from the shoulders down. Although Joni experienced depression, anger, and suicidal thoughts early in her recovery, she motivated herself to learn to use her mouth to hold a paintbrush to paint. Her paintings were beautiful masterpieces that she was able to sell. Joni found purpose in her situation which gave life a newfound meaning. She bounced back from this devastating incident and is now a best-selling author of over 40 books, she is a professionally recorded musician and the founder of a very successful Christian organization called Joni and Friends. Her organization helps people with disabilities all over the world.
This paper seeks to explore the phenomenon called resilience. What is Resilience? What are the factors that influence resilience in people, and how coaching can help develop resilience in clients?
What Is Resilience?
There are a number of definitions for resilience. However, for this purpose we will use the following; resilience is defined as the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change-; (Merriam-Webster.com/dictionary/resilience) the word is derived from the Latin verb “resilire” meaning “ to “jump back” or “to recoil”
According to everydayhealth.com, resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Another definition from the American Psychological Association (APA) states that resilience means having the mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and ability to adjust to both internal and external demands or pressure.”
Is Resilience Innate or Learned?
Several perspectives on resilience debate whether resilience is innate or learned. The APA suggests that people commonly demonstrate resilience and it is more common than uncommon. They promote the idea that resilience can be learned and developed through thoughts, behaviors, and actions. The idea that resilience excludes any negative emotions is a myth. People who are resilient can experience difficulty or distress. Sadness and pain are natural human emotions that do not disappear because someone is resilient, which is evident in Joni Eareckson Tada’s story. How people deal with adversity and traumatic situations varies and the degree of resilience that people demonstrate may be different across a broad spectrum. Initial responses may be emotional, or impulsive and the hyperarousal or acute stress response, commonly known as Fight Flight or Freeze may vary in individuals.
A study was conducted by BMC Public Health on the resilience of adult refugees in Germany. The sample consists of 54 adults in Germany between 2008 and 2018 from various countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, and Nigeria. The study explored the importance and various aspects of resilience in refugees as they experienced significant adversity throughout every stage of the resettlement process. Prior to migration, many refugees experienced life-threatening circumstances, violence, and loss as they tried to escape their home country, and a plethora of challenges from receiving countries when they seek resettlement. Due to the trauma, many experience depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues. Resilience is necessary to survive, rebuild and thrive. Several themes were revealed in the factors contributing to the capacity for resilience and the potential for successful adaptation. The study showed individuals exhibiting different cognitive and behavioral strategies to overcome adversity and some external factors that helped to support adaptation.
According to the research; cognitive strategies include acceptance, present, and future focus, belief in personal control, positive outlook, and a growth mindset through adversity. Some behavioral coping techniques mentioned were using work as a distraction, avoiding stressors, connecting with cultural roots, using creative outlets, and seeking mental health help. (Walther, L., Amann, J., Flick, U. et al. A qualitative study on resilience in adult refugees in Germany. BMC Public Health 21, 828 (2021))
The study confirms the words of Bari Walsh on the science of resilience, “Resilience is born from the interplay between internal disposition and external experience. It derives from supportive relationships, adaptive capacities, and positive experiences.” (The Science of Resilience/ author Bari Walsh/ March 23, 2015.) Recent scientific studies support the theory that resilience can be measured by looking at the response in children’s genes, brain function, and immune system response to certain stressors. There are external factors that might predispose children to certain levels of resilience and positive outcomes in adversity. The ACE Test (Adverse Childhood Experiences) developed by psychotherapist and trainer, Irene M. Greene seeks to measure these factors in children. The ACE test measures results and levels of childhood trauma and adult health and well-being. The test provides valuable information for ACE concepts connected to the resilience factors that can help individuals improve their quality of life after early life trauma. Some common factors that emerge are decision-making capacity, positive self-view, confidence in personal abilities, problem-solving, communication skills, and the ability to manage emotions.
How Coaching Can Help to Develop Resilience in Clients
The consensus is that all humans are hard-wired with the capacity for resilience, but due to various life experiences and personality orientations levels of resilience, may differ. The findings from various research support the fact that it is possible for resilience to be developed over time to optimum capacity. Coaching can be a valuable tool to build resilience in people. From the stories explored for this research, five factors emerged as the most common themes for high resilience, they were: Faith, Purpose, Grit, Positive Mindset, and Solutions-Based Thinking.
Below is a brief exploration of how these factors may be explored in Coaching;
Faith
Faith is defined as complete trust in someone or something (dictionary.com), typically attributed to a religious belief. Several studies on religion show that religious belief systems are a positive influence on people’s response to crises and life stressors. Some of the practices of religion like prayer, meditation, fasting, and mantras have been scientifically proven to improve stress management, emotional well-being, and overall physical health. Most, if not all religions offer a sense of community or belonging. The social structure and support systems of religious practices provide a safe space for congregants or parishioners to find comfort and support in times of hardship through relationships with other humans and the divine. Faith in a higher force has helped individuals find meaning in their suffering. Hope in an eternal future has helped many people deal with chronic illness and even the prospect of death and loss. During the coaching process, the values of the clients are explored. Clients who list faith as a value offer the Coach an opportunity to explore what faith means to the clients and how might faith be a resource or tool to support a client through a crisis they are facing.
Purpose
According to Dictionary.com; “Purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists”. It is the “Why” of being or doing. Purpose combines what we believe and what we value. This is a strong motivational pivot to keep people moving forward when faced with challenging times. Joni Eareckson Tada provides an example of the combined forces of faith and purpose to build resilience and keep going. As a paraplegic from the neck down, she could have lost hope and given up on life. When she discovered that she could do something to contribute to others and enjoy life despite her limitation, she found purpose. Her Christian faith was also a big influence in her zest for life after her injury. Coaches explore the client’s values and goals during the exploration phase of gaining agreement. An understanding of “Why” for the clients and what drives them is a powerful tool to build resilience. Questions to create awareness on the purpose for the client are; What do they prioritize when they face a challenge? What do they find effortless and rewarding? What brings them joy? What values are most important? Clients may be re-directed to their purpose when they face difficult times.
Grit
The word “Grit” originates from the old English word greote which means dust, earth, or gravel (https://www.kinfolk.com/word-grit/). There are various definitions for the word grit, but the one most suited for the context of this research is according to dictionary.com; an indomitable spirit, firmness of character, and perseverance. Researcher and psychologist, Angela Duckworth framed grit as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. The stick-with-it mentality is necessary to attain goals and achieve success amidst challenges and setbacks. The absence of grit often results in unrealized potential. Grit is an important source of high resilience capability. Exploring the concept of grit in coaching will help clients develop the stamina to work through their current situation to achieve their desired aspirations. Partnering with clients to discover their own resolve and will to persevere when they face obstacles supports the development of resilience.
Positive Mindset
An old saying in the Caribbean “ belief kills, and belief cures” often serves as a reminder for many of how powerful the mind is. There are numerous pieces of research over the years on the concept of positive thinking and its effects on both physical and emotional health and well-being. The term positive psychology has become popular in modern culture in the quest for understanding what influences optimism and positive thinking, and how to apply it to life’s daily challenges. The ability to have an optimistic attitude when challenged with adversity or obstacles is a known characteristic in people with strong resilience capacity. Positive thinking does not negate that a problem or challenge exists, rather it allows for an acceptance of the situation and garnering the will to move forward to achieve a favorable outcome. The expectancy that it will get better and that good outcomes are achievable fuels resilience in people. Through the coaching process, the exploration of clients’ thinking and how they view their situation will reveal strengths and opportunities. If a client is stuck in a negative orientation, helping them to reframe their perspective and shift to a positive and empowering state, is an act of building resilience. The application of power tools to create positive change is very beneficial to client growth. Coaching is a useful tool to help build positivity in clients.
Solutions Based Thinking
Problem-solving skills are a required competency for business leaders. It is also a skill that is developed in early childhood through creative play and puzzles. Solutions-based thinking is the ability to exercise critical thinking to find solutions to problems. Life will be filled with problems, and resilient individuals often show problem-solving as a common trait. Solutions-based thinking offers innovative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking to solve complex challenges rather than focusing on the problem. There is no time wasted on complaints or blame. Energy is focused on future outcomes and what is possible. A coach facilitates the client’s growth by partnering with them to come up with their own solutions to the issue that they face. This involves supporting the client in identifying what they have in their own circle of control. Establishing realistic and manageable goals to work towards leveraging current strengths and assets is critical to solutions-based thinking. Solutions-based thinking is resilience in action. Coaching can help move this process along.
The Research on the Advantages of Resilience
Resilience is a fascinating human trait that can be garnered and developed over time. The findings on the benefits of resilience in achieving success and overcoming challenges create an even greater desire to develop one’s capacity for resilience. Coaching is a fitting platform to support this development in individuals. An awareness of the characteristics and factors that build resilience will help coaches support their clients to leverage those they currently demonstrate and develop others to help build optimum resilience capability. Resilience is a powerful staple on the road to success and there is much to learn about its application in coaching and the potential for client growth.
References
Walther et al. BMC Public Health (2021) 21:828
https://www.verywellmind.com/What-Is-Resilience-2795059
https://www.psychologytoday.com/Us/Basics/Resilience
https://www.apa.org/Topics/Resilience
https://positivepsychology.com/Resilience-Theory/
The Science of Resilience/ Author Bari Walsh/ March 23, 2015.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/Articles/10.1186/S12889-021-10817-6
A Qualitative Study on Resilience in Adult Refugees in Germany/Walther, L., Amann, J., Flick, U. et al. A Qualitative Study on Resilience in Adult Refugees in Germany. BMC Public Health 21, 828 (2021).
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-021-10817-6
Pargament, K. I., & Cummings, J. (2010). Anchored by Faith: Religion as a Resilience Factor. In J. W. Reich, A. J. Zautra, & J. S. Hall (Eds.), Handbook of Adult Resilience (Pp. 193–210). The Guilford Press.
https://balancehealthandhealing.com/Cultivating-Resilience-Developing-Sense-Purpose/
Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (New York: Scribner, 2016).