Resilience is a word we hear often in leadership and HR circles but what does it really mean?
Recently, I attended a powerful session by Dr. Valorie Burton at the Coaching.com Summit on The Rules of Resilience, and it brought this question full circle for me.
She shared that resilience isn’t just about grit or strength. It’s about creating a personal system – a way of thinking, relating, and choosing that helps us stay grounded when life shakes things up.
She described three pillars that truly resonated with me.
- Adaptive Skills ~ how we think and respond in response to challenges & opportunities.
- Protective Resources ~ tangible resources that enable you to navigate through these challenging moments -people, time, and support systems.
- Preventive Choices ~ proactive choices we make to reduce future stress
We often define resilience as bouncing back. But what if true resilience is about growing forward?
Resilient leaders think differently. They have a level of mental toughness and psychological capital that enables better performance and leadership under stress.
They ask:
- What’s within my control?
- How do I want to grow through this?
- What’s the opportunity hidden in this challenge?
That shift changes everything.
As I listened, I found myself thinking of all the moments I’ve been stretched – personally and professionally and how much of my own resilience has been built through practice.
Curious, I took Valorie’s Resilience Assessment. I intuitively knew what the results would show.
My strongest pillar is Protective Resources – a reflection of the people, practices, and communities I’ve intentionally nurtured over time.
My growth edge is Preventive Choices Pillar – an invitation to prepare for adversity by slowing down, setting boundaries, and choosing rest as a form of strength. It reminded me that resilience is a muscle we build through daily choices – helping us navigate uncertainty with clarity, calm, and courage.
What about you? Which pillar of your resilience feels strongest right now and why?
I am a courage catalyst, executive coach, facilitator, speaker and founder of Interact Consulting.