EWS Group MoversSuite (223 × 62 px) (1)

Moving Words – Resilience

Written by Timothy Brady.

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” Jamais Cascio (San Francisco Bay Area-based author and futurist)

Anyone who’s in the moving industry understands the need to be resilient in their day-to-day operations and in their long-term goals. This industry is always in the flux of changing. From new technology to challenging regulations being tossed in our paths, the need to remain strong and profitable requires ambitious efforts.
Being resilient is more than waiting for something to happen and then reacting to it. It requires proactive planning and knowing what’s around the next bend, over the next hill and on the other side of the fog bank. It’s about having contingencies in place depending on the direction of the wind.

Not only do we need to be resilient in our own business, but part of our customer service needs to be helping shipping customers deal with the events and changes each move creates, so they are resilient in the final outcome of their move. As we all know, moving is in the top three of the most stressful events in peoples’ lives. And there are times our clients are dealing with two, or all three; a death, a divorce and moving, all in a single transfer.

So what are some ways to build resilience?

Make connections. Good relationships with vendors, employees and contractors are very important. That feeling of being a family who watches each other’s backs, knowing you’ll have  support and help when you need it, and are willing to provide assistance when others require it.

No crisis is insurmountable. Highly stressful events happen and we can’t control when or if they happen. However, we can change how we interpret and respond to these occurrences. Look beyond the present to how future circumstances may be a little better. Think of ways in which you might better deal with difficult situations. When things are running smoothly, be planning for the next stressful event by keeping your eye on what’s immediately in front of you and what’s on the horizon. Listen for warning signals that indicate a stress-filled event lurking over that next hill.

Accept that change is a part of life. As you go through life, you must evaluate each goal you’ve set to determine if it’s still attainable. Adverse events can require a change of direction. Remember, accepting circumstances that can’t be changed will help you focus on those that can be changed.

Set realistic attainable goals. Not just large goals that take lots of time and effort, but also have smaller, more easily attainable goals that you can accomplish quickly. Break down larger goals into mini-accomplishments that enable you to climb the ladder to success one step at a time. Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do today that moves me in the direction I need to go to reach my goals?”

Take decisive actions. Don’t run from a stressful situation. Meet it head on; look for solutions and then act decisively to resolve the problem, thus relieving the stress. Ignoring a problem only creates greater stress and usually expands it.

Keep things in perspective. When facing the most stressful of events, consider it in a broader sense and context  to stay with a long-term perspective. Avoid blowing it out of proportion.

Keep an optimistic outlook. Look at the world with a positive attitude, so you expect good things to happen. Visualize what you want, rather than worrying about what you fear.

Take care of yourself and your company. Pay attention to your needs and the needs of your business. Sometimes the best thing you can do is step back and do something totally unrelated to the stress and what created it to get a new perspective and discover the best solution. Be willing to take time off to do something you really enjoy; a round of golf, fishing, gardening, or other hobby or entertaining activity that allows your mind to escape for a short period. You’ll be amazed what your subconscious is capable of solving when given the opportunity.

“Resilience isn’t a single skill. It’s a variety of skills and coping mechanisms. To bounce back from bumps in the road as well as failures, you should focus on emphasizing the positive.”

                        Jean Chatzky (American financial journalist, author and motivational speaker)

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