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OH, TO BE LIKE SILLY PUTTY

By Reva Nelson
I like to simplify the difficult. When problems mount and it becomes impossible to see the forest or the trees, I advise my clients to be more like silly putty. Remember that toy? Stretchy, flexible, able to play, bend, transfer images, pliable and strong. Silly putty is resilient; we need to become resilient in order to face changes and tough times.

Is resilience a skill that can be taught? I believe so. When I interviewed risk-takers for my RISK IT! book, I found that they were also resilient. Difficulties are expected; it's part of the game. Colleagues, knowing I've been in business since 1982, and a single parent since '85, have often commented on my personal resilience. I know I have inner strength, and I started to wonder about the inner strength of others. What leads an organization to really tap into its own inner resources? How does a business, or an association, weather its own difficulties? Everyone's struggling with the same problems: layoffs (de-hirings), low morale, decreased budget, increased workload. How do we develop greater inner strength in organizations?

My research over the last four years, studying and interviewing survivors of personal and corporate difficulties, confirmed that we all have terrific inner strength that can be developed, stretched, maximized and utilized. Some of the skills may seem more obvious than others, such as maintaining a sense of humour and perspective, handling stress, taking risks and visualizing. Others, such as "deadening" are less obvious. All of the competencies can be developed and increased with knowledge, time and practice.

The main focus for going through any difficult time, be it personal or corporate, is to believe that things can change for the better. Just as there are cycles in our lives, in our personal growth and development, there are also cycles in nature (ask any Californian about last year's floods and fires) and cycles in business. When we are caught in "the worst of times" it's so easy to see only the bleak and the impossible. I'm speaking of more than just positive thinking. I'm speaking of a very inner depth of knowledge of life's cycles, the ocean's ebb and flow, the pull of the seasons. When we are able to understand in our core, that "this, too shall pass," we are able to maintain the perspective that is needed to see possibilities.

It then becomes natural to look for the change, find the opportunity, be creative, and revitalize ourselves and others once more. As leaders, we must develop and maintain our own inner strength, becoming as flexible, pliable and resilient as silly putty.

Then we can truly lead by example, enabling others to be strong as well.

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