Defined as the ability to face setbacks, unforeseen events, obstacles, and failures without allowing them to dominate or derail your life; resilience is one of the key skills any employee should possess at work. The pressure that normally comes with assignments and tight deadlines can be somewhat a challenge. Experts believe that one would be able to sail through all these and most importantly, have less of a negative effect if they are resilient. Dr Opiyo Andala, an educator says that when one is resilient, they definitely have higher levels of problem-solving skills, self-awareness, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, which according to him are the major qualities most employers are looking for. He says this is so because such skills enable employees to cope with change, problems, and stress. Faustin Mutabazi, an educator and entrepreneur in Kigali says in this era we are living in, the increasing demands on time and energy have created an environment where people feel overwhelmed and unable to manage the high expectations of their daily lives including work. When one is resilient, such a person would focus more on acknowledging the situation at hand, learn from their mistakes as well as move forward with ease, he says. Mutabazi points out that it’s essential to put into consideration that one’s level of resilience can be increased and improved at any time. Resilience is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. “The importance of being resilient is that it builds a habit of looking at stress as a challenge to overcome, and this motivates one to address the causes of their stress in positive ways,” he adds. Andala says when one is resilient; they are also more likely to be committed in everything they are doing. He explains that one reason why resilient people persist in their coping efforts is that they are committed to an active, engaged outlook toward challenges, which motivates them to actively attempt to influence their surroundings and to persevere even if they don’t seem to be making it. Also, he says such people are dedicated to finding meaning toward taking an active, problem-solving approach to situations. “Resilient people tend to accept challenges and work to overcome and even master them, even when a situation is not possible to control,” he says. At the workplace, he says when faced with job loss or any other challenge, a resilient person would grab opportunities for exploring new employment options rather than become demoralised. Sylvester Twizerimana, a psychologist believes that being resilient helps one develop and nurture a positive view of themselves. On the other hand, he says this skill also gives one psychological strength to cope with stress and hardship. He explains that this is so because one gains a positive approach to work and outlook on life, which in turn enables better problem-solving and helps them stay motivated. However, in the workplace, Twizerimana says with this skill, one can feel empowered, capable of dealing with change, and less susceptible to burnout.
