Resilience: More Than Just a Buzzword
In 1994, then STAR Group officer Derrick McManus was shot 14 times in five seconds, in one of Australia鈥檚 longest-ever sieges.
After the attack, he lay on the ground bleeding for three hours prior to his rescue. Then, against all odds, returned to full duties two and a half years later.
Derrick is the embodiment of resilience. The tools he used to recover from this life-altering moment 鈥 mentally, physically and emotionally 鈥 underpin his work today as an experienced corporate trainer delivering the 鈥鈥 course with Professional and Continuing Education at the 成人大片.
Speaking with Ali Clarke on Levelling up: Your leadership podcast, Derrick reflects on this traumatic experience, why he believes resilience is far more than just the latest buzzword, and shares how human durability can help leaders to achieve higher levels of personal and professional success.
Resilience: the ability to 鈥榖ounce back鈥
Derrick defines resilience as 鈥渢he ability to bounce back鈥. How well you bounce-back from experiences, events or circumstances all comes down to preparation, he said.
鈥淲e need to train for the experiences, or the circumstances we can realistically expect to encounter in our day-to-day life,鈥 Derrick said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to prepare for the worst鈥f the worst happens, can I manage it, can my organisation manage it, and can my family manage it.
鈥淚f we can manage the worst, then everything else after that is easy.
鈥淧rior to the shooting I knew that if I got shot, I may have to deal with being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life鈥 may be dealing with nightmares, flashbacks, PTSD.
鈥淲hat I said is: if I do get into this situation, if I do get shot, what could I anticipate as my best response to those things,鈥 he said.
According to Derrick, there are two types of resilience: functional resilience, and aspirational resilience.
鈥淔unctional resilience is all about the stuff we need to get through day to day, week to week鈥t鈥檚 about having a 鈥榥o stress zone鈥.
鈥淎spirational resilience is the resilience you need to take on the challenges that you鈥檙e passionate about.
鈥淚 relate this to taking on the STAR Group course 鈥 things that are massive mental, emotional, physical challenges 鈥 but you love them, and you want to take them on and be successful at them.
鈥淪ome people get locked into being aspirational, saying 鈥業鈥檝e got to be aspirational, I鈥檝e got to keep pushing myself鈥, but unfortunately, if we keep on pushing ourselves all the time, then we鈥檙e going to hit anxiety, stress and burnout.
鈥淪o, you鈥檝e got to know when to switch from aspirational resilience to functional resilience, and be comfortable doing it.鈥
The continuum of durability
That鈥檚 where Derrick鈥檚 continuum of durability comes into play.
For Derrick, durability is all about achieving sustainable, optimal performance. It outlines how you can move from being a fragile leader, to a resilient leader, and finally, a durable leader.
It is designed to remove uncertainty from your choices and actions and give you confidence you are making the right decision.
鈥淲hen we start something brand new, we鈥檙e fragile鈥e鈥檙e learning and experimenting,鈥 he said.
鈥淭hen we move from fragility to a point where we are fairly competent and resilient 鈥 if something goes wrong we know how to fix it.
鈥淔inally, we get to this place where we know we are durable; 100 per cent reliable鈥e know that everything we do is going to go exactly the way we want.鈥
That鈥檚 the sweet spot, and the key to unlocking personal and professional success.
鈥淲hen we are in this zone, we know exactly what is happening, and there is no stress鈥e are enjoying life,鈥 he said.
鈥淭hese are the days you come to work and go 鈥業 love this鈥.鈥
If you鈥檇 like to learn practical strategies for improving your resilience; and reap the benefits for work, life satisfaction, increased confidence and optimism and improved mental wellbeing, register today for Derrick鈥檚 upcoming course, 鈥鈥, being held on Tuesday 12 September.