Take inspiration from resilient women far and near as you read their incredible stories of strength and courage.
In a survey of 250 high-ranking female executives, resilience was cited as the top attribute leading to their success in the business world.
An ability to ‘bounce back’ doesn’t eradicate life’s difficulties. But it can enable you to cope with stress – something that leads to anxiety, worry and even depression for as many as 30% of everywoman Network members, and 40% to admit
they need to build more resilience – something that can be greatly aided by having role models near and far.
Known internationally as the 15-year-old girl who survived being shot by members of the Taliban enraged by her attendance at school, Malala’s fearless and philosophical response to the trauma – which left her near-dead and requiring
extensive reconstructive surgery – belies her teenage years. Aged 11 Malala received worldwide fame by speaking out against the Taliban’s efforts to ban girls from education. When attempted assassins boarded her school bus and declared
they would shoot every passenger unless Yousafazi made herself known, she identified herself, in the certain belief she would be shot.
Harry Potter author J K Rowling’s rags to riches story is well-documented: as a single mother she persevered through multiple rejections until her boy wizard books became a worldwide phenomenon and – fast forward 20 years – she became
the first person to become a billionaire through writing books. But her continued literary efforts were not merely a determined reaction to the publishers who dismissed her; writing allowed her to process the loss of her mother to
multiple sclerosis, and her short-lived marriage. She was, in her own words, “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless”. “By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew,” she said, but it was
failure, she revealed in her 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University (watch below) – that “taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way.”
The famed ‘Lady with the lamp’ maintained a lifelong vision to improve nursing care, which was – despite every conceivable setback – to change the course of history.
Nightingale pursued her chosen career path despite protestations from her father, rejections from training institutions based on her gender, and later, once she’d secured a role, the discrimination of colleagues who disliked her
privileged upbringing – a factor which led many to be suspicious of her motives and some to suspect she was a government spy!
In her webinar Learning to become resilient, Sally Kettle, who knows a thing or two about resilience thanks to her world record Atlantic rows, cited two role models in
emotional strength: German chancellor Angela Merkel… and her own mother.
There is much to be learned from the women surrounding your personal and professional life; sometimes the simple act of dialling up your listening will alert you to the lessons to be taken. Perhaps as you’ve read this article you’ve
drawn parallels between these famous women and the females in your world. Maybe you can spot a resilient character in that person who always seems to be able to find the humour in a stressful or difficult situation. Or who is able to
grit down and simply get on with things when the going gets tough.
Conversely, you may have identified individuals who lack resilience. Maybe they’re ‘stuck’ in feeling angry or resentful about a situation. Or perhaps they play the role of ‘victim’ or ‘martyr’, casting aside their hopes and dreams at
the first setback.
READ MORE: Using stress to your advantage: 4 strategies you can implement today
Deeper understanding of what it means to be resilient enabled 58% of our Network members to realise they’re stronger than they thought. Are you one of them?
If you’re not sure, consider asking a trusted colleague for feedback – someone who works with you on getting things done and can point out where your strength shines through and where you may need to create better coping strategies.
Really listening and not taking anything too personally is a sign in itself that you’re willing and able to grow.
Do a bit of self-analysis too; look for concrete examples of where you can answer yes to any of the following questions:
Malala Yousafazi: the girl who was shot for going to school
Known internationally as the 15-year-old girl who survived being shot by members of the Taliban enraged by her attendance at school, Malala’s fearless and philosophical response to the trauma – which left her near-dead and requiring
extensive reconstructive surgery – belies her teenage years. Aged 11 Malala received worldwide fame by speaking out against the Taliban’s efforts to ban girls from education. When attempted assassins boarded her school bus and declared
they would shoot every passenger unless Yousafazi made herself known, she identified herself, in the certain belief she would be shot.
“Even if I am a girl, even if people think I can’t do it, I should not lose hope.”Malala is a phenomenal example of a resilient woman, not simply overcoming extreme difficulties, but positively shining in their aftermath. She remains ever true to her principles; just one year after the shooting, she told a United Nations congregation that what she’d endured was simply further evidence of why worldwide access to education for girls is critical. Aware of the risk she was taking, she said, “If [The Taliban] come to kill me I will tell them what they are trying to do is wrong, that education is a basic right.” Resilience, it has been proven by research, is a side effect of aging; emotional strength, it is suggested, is the culmination of experience. But Malala’s incredible psychological endurance proves resilience is not the sole preserve of the mature. Watch her as she accepts – still aged just 17 and before an audience of monarchs and heads of state – her 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
J K Rowling: from bread line to billionaire
Harry Potter author J K Rowling’s rags to riches story is well-documented: as a single mother she persevered through multiple rejections until her boy wizard books became a worldwide phenomenon and – fast forward 20 years – she became
the first person to become a billionaire through writing books. But her continued literary efforts were not merely a determined reaction to the publishers who dismissed her; writing allowed her to process the loss of her mother to
multiple sclerosis, and her short-lived marriage. She was, in her own words, “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless”. “By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew,” she said, but it was
failure, she revealed in her 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University (watch below) – that “taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way.”
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.”“I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I suspected. Our failures can often offer us valuable insights about ourselves and our ability to handle adversity. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.” Furthermore, she takes personal responsibility for the things in her life which have not gone well: “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.” READ MORE: Overcoming mistakes: turn your workplace failures into career success stories
Florence Nightingale: the inspiration for the British Red Cross
The famed ‘Lady with the lamp’ maintained a lifelong vision to improve nursing care, which was – despite every conceivable setback – to change the course of history.
Nightingale pursued her chosen career path despite protestations from her father, rejections from training institutions based on her gender, and later, once she’d secured a role, the discrimination of colleagues who disliked her
privileged upbringing – a factor which led many to be suspicious of her motives and some to suspect she was a government spy!
“I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.”Even when surrounded by appalling sanitary conditions and rising death tolls, she painstakingly collected evidence of all that was wrong with modern nursing. Following the Crimean War she returned to Britain and learned the hard lesson that it was her own ignorance about poor sanitary conditions and their link to deadly diseases like typhoid and cholera, which had led to such high death rates. Rather than lose heart, she put together a set of proposals for how nurses could be better trained and conditions improved, and used the opportunity of an invitation to Balmoral to present her recommendations to the ruling monarch Queen Victoria.
Your mother, your friend, your aunt, your teacher: everyone around you has a story of triumph over adversity
In her webinar Learning to become resilient, Sally Kettle, who knows a thing or two about resilience thanks to her world record Atlantic rows, cited two role models in
emotional strength: German chancellor Angela Merkel… and her own mother.
There is much to be learned from the women surrounding your personal and professional life; sometimes the simple act of dialling up your listening will alert you to the lessons to be taken. Perhaps as you’ve read this article you’ve
drawn parallels between these famous women and the females in your world. Maybe you can spot a resilient character in that person who always seems to be able to find the humour in a stressful or difficult situation. Or who is able to
grit down and simply get on with things when the going gets tough.
Conversely, you may have identified individuals who lack resilience. Maybe they’re ‘stuck’ in feeling angry or resentful about a situation. Or perhaps they play the role of ‘victim’ or ‘martyr’, casting aside their hopes and dreams at
the first setback.
READ MORE: Using stress to your advantage: 4 strategies you can implement today
You: you’re probably more resilient than you think
Deeper understanding of what it means to be resilient enabled 58% of our Network members to realise they’re stronger than they thought. Are you one of them?
If you’re not sure, consider asking a trusted colleague for feedback – someone who works with you on getting things done and can point out where your strength shines through and where you may need to create better coping strategies.
Really listening and not taking anything too personally is a sign in itself that you’re willing and able to grow.
Do a bit of self-analysis too; look for concrete examples of where you can answer yes to any of the following questions:
- Are you optimistic?
- Do you recover emotionally from losses and setbacks?
- Do you have friends and colleagues with whom you are happy to express feelings?
- Do you have positive experiences of asking for help?
- Are friends, family and colleagues interested in your welfare?
- Remember, it works both ways: Are you a good listener and a support for others?
