The American Psychological Association defines psychological resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors.”
Having resilience does not mean a person will not experience difficulty or stressful environments. It’s how well they deal with stress and pressure when confronted with sadness, fear, anxiety, and any other negative emotion which could otherwise lead to trauma. Their ability to endure such conditions, deflect negative experiences, and manage their reactions is what we call psychological endurance. Think of resilience as a shield and endurance as the way we perform during battle.
Resilience and DISC Style
A person’s ability to persevere and even use negative situations to their advantage reflects a high level of behavioral intelligence, which is more easily understood through the adoption of DISC theory and insightful behavioral analysis.
PeopleKeys’ DISC Report measures the instinctive response to pressure, and on some occasions, you may notice people have different primary and secondary styles under pressure:
- Dominance (D): Assertive and decisive, these individuals thrive in challenging situations, often showing remarkable resilience by taking control and pushing forward despite obstacles.
- Influence (I): Sociable and optimistic, they use their enthusiasm and network to bounce back from setbacks, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Steadiness (S): Patient and reliable, their resilience is built on consistency and support from their close relationships, enabling them to maintain stability in tough times.
- Conscientiousness (C): Detail-oriented and analytical, they rely on careful planning and thorough problem-solving to overcome adversity and maintain resilience.
Stress is Not Necessarily Bad
Not all stress is bad. Distress is the type of stress that has a negative effect on us and results in feeling overloaded, weak, and vulnerable. However, there is also eustress, which promotes growth, resistance, and strength. This positive stress is just another word for resilience. As we build psychological endurance, we learn to oppose the stressors faced within our immediate environment and start to change the way we react when under pressure.
Resilience Means Optimal Performance
Being able to deal with adversity on-sight keeps us from being stuck in the past or dismissive of problems we face going forward. Building psychological resilience helps one better cope with crises, maintain high motivation, and stay positive and self-confident in their approach. Different personalities will have different coping mechanisms. For example, having a support system in place will help an S style better evaluate their strengths and adapt to change.
Coaching for Resilience with DISC
While self-help programs and training may help strengthen your confidence and teach you invaluable lessons in how to deal with others or how to get out of problematic situations, they won’t necessarily help you develop resilience without a skillful coach with an objective view. Such tools simply aren’t individualized and don’t have enough evidence to support your actual journey or purpose in life. This is where a life coach or business coach steps in and helps you achieve your goals.
Life Coaching: A life coach can tailor strategies to your DISC personality type, ensuring that resilience-building techniques are personalized and effective for personal development. This includes:
- Resilient Dominance (D): Leveraging assertiveness while developing patience and empathy.
- Resilient Influence (I): Using optimism to overcome setbacks while staying organized.
- Resilient Steadiness (S): Maintaining calmness and reliability while adapting to change.
- Resilient Conscientiousness (C): Using analytical skills to find solutions while being flexible.
Business Coaching: In a business context, a coach can help you apply resilience and DISC insights to improve workplace performance, leadership, and team dynamics:
- Resilient Dominance (D): Enhancing decision-making and leadership skills under pressure.
- Resilient Influence (I): Building a positive and collaborative work environment that leverages social networks.
- Resilient Steadiness (S): Ensuring stability and reliability in processes while navigating change.
- Resilient Conscientiousness (C): Employing detailed planning and data-driven decisions to manage business challenges.
Integrating resilience with DISC personality styles provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing personal effectiveness, coping with stress, and improving relationships and performance in both personal and professional areas of life.
