The power of resiliency Published Aug. 28, 2008 By Dr. Wynell Neece Organizational Consulting TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- David is a 48-year-old father of three and a 25-year employee of the 76th Maintenance Wing. All who know David, believe he is a great guy and has it all together; a great wife (who is currently unemployed as a mortgage banker), three kids in high school, (one a senior with hopes of college and aspirations as a engineer; one a sophomore struggling with academics and not making good choices and a freshman who has in the past year survived a serious car accident). David is also the primary caretaker of his widowed mother who at age 78 lives alone but suffers from a variety of health issues. David is also facing the reorganization of his work unit, which may lead to his re-assignment to another unit, a different work shift and separation from co-workers he has worked with for the past 15 years. David is also a highly resilient person. Does this situation sound familiar? In today's workplace everyone feels pressured to get more work done, of higher quality, with fewer people, in less time, with fewer budgets. In our personal lives things are also changing rapidly and we must all learn how to change rapidly, cope with unexpected setbacks, and overcome unwanted adversities. Resiliency is our ability to survive and thrive in the face of change, challenge and disruption without exhibiting dysfunctional behavior. In organizations, it's the ability to positively respond to the challenges faced by reorganizations, mergers and other departures from routine. It's our intentional preparation to bounce back quickly and stay on track. Resiliency is like a muscle that resides within all individuals and organizations. And like any useful muscle, it must be developed in advance and consistently exercised. It must be strong to withstand a wide range of unpredictable forces. The good news is that we are all born with the potential to develop the ability to become highly resilient. To know how to bounce back and find a way to have things turn out well, and to thrive in constant change with agility, creativeness and adaptability. There are five levels of resiliency: 1. Maintaining Your Emotional Stability, Health and Well Being 2. Focus outward: Good Problem Solving Skill 3. Focus Inward Strong Inner "Selfs" 4. Well-Developed Resiliency Skills 5. The Talent for Serendipity. For additional information, contact Dr. Wynell Neece, Organizational Consulting Office at 734-6688.