Can resilience be taught, or is it an innate trait?

In today’s fast-paced business world, resilience has become a crucial skill for success. The question of whether resilience can be taught or is an innate trait has sparked debate among psychologists, business leaders, and educators. Recent studies suggest that 73% of employers consider resilience a key factor in hiring decisions, highlighting its growing importance in the workplace.

To shed light on this topic, we’ve gathered insights from four industry experts. Our contributors offer diverse perspectives on the nature of resilience and its development. While their views vary, a common theme emerges: resilience is not solely innate but can be cultivated and strengthened over time. Some experts emphasize the role of genetics and early childhood experiences, while others focus on the importance of learning and practice in building resilience.

For event planners and decision-makers looking to foster resilience in their teams, understanding these expert viewpoints can provide valuable strategies for developing this critical skill in professional settings. Let’s explore what our experts have to say about building resilience in the workplace and whether it’s a trait that can be taught or enhanced through experience.

Alex Staniforth

Alex Staniforth, a record-breaking adventurer, ultra-endurance athlete, and resilience coach, addresses the question: Can resilience be taught, or is it an innate trait? Staniforth asserts that while some people may be naturally more resilient due to their experiences, resilience can indeed be taught and intentionally developed. He states, “We can all intentionally build our resilience so that we’re better able to deal with these situations when they arise, and therefore we become happier, healthier, and more productive.”Staniforth compares resilience to building a muscle, explaining that exposure to challenges strengthens one’s ability to cope with future stressors. He draws from his personal experiences, including two attempts on Mount Everest and surviving two major disasters, to illustrate how resilience can be developed over time. This process of building resilience through experience has equipped him with a skillset that allows him to face everyday challenges with greater ease.

Key takeaways for developing resilience include:

1. Intentionally seeking out challenging experiences
2. Reflecting on past difficulties to identify coping mechanisms
3. Gradually increasing exposure to stressors, much like progressive overload in strength training

For event planners and decision-makers, Staniforth’s insights suggest that resilience-building activities and training programs can be valuable investments for teams and organizations. By creating opportunities for employees to face and overcome challenges in controlled environments, leaders can foster a more resilient workforce.

As we explore this topic further, additional expert perspectives may offer complementary strategies for cultivating resilience in professional settings. The key message remains clear: resilience is a skill that can be taught, developed, and strengthened through intentional practice and exposure to challenges.

Claire Brumby

Claire Brumby, an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and accredited ICF coach, offers a resounding “yes” to the question: Can resilience be taught, or is it an innate trait? Drawing from her personal experience of overcoming a life-threatening illness and founding a multi-award-winning healthy snacking brand, Brumby provides a unique perspective on developing resilience.

Brumby emphasizes that resilience is like a muscle that can be strengthened through consistent, practical exercise. She introduces three actionable techniques to build resilience:

1. The “Three Things Plus” method: At the end of each day or project, identify three things that went well and one challenge you overcame. This trains the brain to spot opportunities in setbacks.
2. Practice small, intentional discomforts: Regularly push yourself out of your comfort zone, such as pitching to a challenging client or speaking up in meetings.
3. The “What’s Next?” technique: When faced with a setback, give yourself a brief moment to process, then immediately focus on the next step forward.

Brumby’s approach differs from traditional positive thinking methods by emphasizing practical, consistent actions. Her insights are particularly valuable for business leaders and entrepreneurs, as she relates resilience-building to real-world business scenarios. By framing setbacks as opportunities using the “because of” mindset, Brumby offers a fresh perspective on turning challenges into stepping stones for success.

Devon Harris

Devon Harris, a former Jamaican bobsledder and Olympian, brings a unique perspective to the question of whether resilience can be taught or is an innate trait. As a motivational speaker and author, Harris draws from his experience of overcoming adversity to achieve Olympic success.

Can resilience be taught?

Yes, according to Devon Harris, resilience is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. While some people may appear naturally more resilient, Harris emphasizes that resilience is not solely an innate trait.

Harris compares the development of resilience to learning how to walk, highlighting that it’s a process of falling down, getting back up, and trying again until mastery is achieved. He stresses that resilience is built through facing challenges, learning from them, and moving forward. This perspective aligns with research showing that resilience is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

One of Harris’s key insights is the importance of mindset in developing resilience. He emphasizes that believing in the possibility of growth and viewing setbacks as learning opportunities are crucial steps in building resilience. This aligns with the concept of a growth mindset, which has been linked to increased resilience in psychological research.

Harris also highlights the role of leaders, mentors, and parents in teaching resilience to others. He suggests that modelling resilient behaviour is one of the most powerful ways to teach it, as it demonstrates that resilience isn’t about never falling, but about always getting back up. This insight complements previous speakers’ perspectives by emphasizing the social aspect of resilience development.

Alvin Law

Alvin Law, a Canadian Professional Hall of Fame speaker with over four decades of experience, offers a unique perspective on resilience.

According to Alvin Law, resilience is both innate and teachable. His insights can be distilled into three key observations:

1. Personal Experience as a Teaching Tool
   Alvin has been teaching resilience through his life story and motivational speeches for 44 years. Born without arms due to thalidomide exposure, he learned to use his feet for everyday tasks, demonstrating that challenges can be overcome through perseverance.

2. Storytelling Over Lecturing
   His approach to teaching resilience is not through direct instruction, but by:
   • Sharing personal experiences
   • Allowing audiences to draw their own conclusions
   • Helping organizations understand how to integrate resilience into their culture

3. Transformative Potential
   Alvin believes that everyone faces challenges, and by presenting his life story, he helps individuals:
   • Recognize their own resilience
   • Understand that obstacles can be stepping stones
   • Develop a mindset of adaptability and growth

Alvin’s unique method of teaching resilience through storytelling and personal example has proven effective, impacting audiences globally since 1981 and proving that resilience is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and mastered.