These days everyone talk about resilience. I wonder which of these definitions resonates the most with you as a leader…
  1. “Successful adaptation despite risk and adversity. Resilience requires exposure to significant risks, overcoming risks or
    adversity, and success that is beyond predicted expectations.” Barton (2003)
  2. “Emergence over time of unexpected strengths and competencies in those at risk” Beardslee (2002)
  3. “The ability of adults in otherwise normal circumstances who are exposed to an isolated/and potentially highly disruptive event . . . to maintain relatively stable, healthy levels of psychological functioning.” Bonanno et al. (2007)
  4. “Not only the ability to rapidly ‘bounce back’ in the aftermath of inescapable extreme adversities, such as large-scale natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or war zone exposure, but also the quality of being ‘unflappable’ during the event or even to feel strengthened by it.” Bracha and Bienvenu (2005)
  5. “The processes underlying successful adaptation under adverse conditions” Butler et al. (2007)
  6. “The ability to thrive in the face of obstacles or adverse circumstances” Condly (2006)
  7. “An improved or enhanced adaptive outcome”  Earvolino- Ramirez (2007)
  8. “A universal capacity which allows a person, group, or community to prevent, minimize, or overcome the damaging effects of adversity” Ghazinour (2003)
  9. “A class of phenomena characterized by patterns of positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity or loss” Hart (2006)
  10. “An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change” Laraway (2007)
  11. “[Resilience involves] a developmental progression such that new vulnerabilities and/or strengths often emerge with changing life
    circumstances.” Luthar et al. (2000)
  12. “Flexibility in the face of ever-changing situational demands, including the ability to recover from negative and stressful experiences and find positive meaning in seemingly adverse situations” Maguen et al. (2008)
  13. “A common phenomenon arising from ordinary human adaptive processes” Masten (2001)
  14. “The process of cognitive adaptation to threat . . . restores many people to their prior level of functioning and inspires others to find new meaning in their lives.” Taylor (1983)
  15. “An ability to go on with life after hardship and adversity or to continue living a purposeful life after experiencing hardship and adversity” Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004)
  16. “The processes that help adults bounce back from significant negative emotional events” Van Vliet (2008)
  17. “The ability to stretch (like elastic) or flex (like a suspension bridge) in response to the pressures and strains of life” Wiens and Boss (2006)
  18. “The skill to continue to perform in spite of adversity” Albet (2005)
  19. “The ability to maintain a state of normal equilibrium in the face of extremely unfavorable circumstances”  Ahmed (2007)
  20. “The capacity to develop a high degree of competence in spite of stressful environments and experiences” Allison et al. (2003)