Resilience and the Mountain Goat – AQ next up on EQ

Adversity Quotient is defined simply as a measure of how an individual responds to adversity.

If you have ever seen mountain goats in a zoo or in the wild, you might wonder at their ability to be seemingly at home in precarious places. Apparently, they have the capacity to maintain their foothold in a way other creatures would not find possible. A key seems to be in the way they have adapted to rarified or difficult environments, and in the social structure they surround themselves with.

We sometimes feel like we inhabit the edge of a cliff, ill-prepared to deal with the curved balls that life throws at us. We would like it not to be so, but this is the nature of life. Which brings us to the reality and need for resilience.

What Is Resilience & AQ?

You’ve heard about EQ, Emotional Quotient; let’s now look at AQ, Adversity Quotient. Paul G. Stoltz, author of the book, ‘Adversity Quotient – Turning Obstacles into Opportunities’, defines it simply as a measure of how an individual responds to adversity. A report posted on the National Library of Medicine website states: “A person who has a high adversity quotient will also have high performance. People with (minimal) adversity quotients will always depend on others…”

The AQ Profile (AQP) developed by Paul G. Stoltz is intended to provide insights into both the quality and quantity of one’s hardwired pattern of response to adversity, along with a detailed profile summary. Four CORE subscales (dimensions) Control, Ownership, Reach, and Endurance, are used for assessment, which together comprise and describe an individual’s AQ. By 2019, more than 1 million individuals worldwide, representing 137 countries, had completed some version of the AQP, and from Amazon, JP Morgan, AT&T, P&G and others.

The pandemic threw us into all sorts of mental knots and surfaced for the corporate world a very real adaptive and developmental need. The need for resilience was previously thought at best to be ambiguous and at odds with reducing stress – always a touchy topic in the HR context. Major global training brands around the world saw themselves developing programmes overnight in response to an overwhelming felt need.

The Cost Of Stress

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates  that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity, and is forecast to reach $6 trillion by 2030. WHO has called ‘stress’ the "health epidemic of the 21st century". Gallup’s Global 2022 Workplace Report cites that 44 percent of people surveyed across the world experience significant workplace stress on a daily basis. The World Economic Forum identified  employee burnout as an occupational phenomenon, affecting industries worldwide. A Gallup Study found that 23 percent of employees reported feeling burned out often or always, and 44 percent reported feeling burned out sometimes. That means about two-thirds of full-time workers experience burnout on the job!

PwC’s Global Crisis and Resilience Survey 2023 posits that business leaders bear the brunt of it too, and face an unprecedented level of disruption and uncertainty. 96 percent of organisations have experienced disruption in the past two years. 91 percent have experienced at least one disruption other than the pandemic. “Against this backdrop, resilience has become one of the most vital strategic priorities in the corporate world”.

A Deloitte Report in 2021 found 82 percent of senior leaders reporting exhaustion. A full 50 percent of senior leaders also contemplated exiting their roles, resigning, retiring, taking a leave of absence, or moving to part-time work.

The Panacea

The panacea in some measure points to resilience development. We want to aim at stretch, not a snap from stress. The good news is that resilience is not a fixed trait but rather a dynamic quality that can be developed and strengthened over time. It is not limited to a select few; everyone has the potential to enhance their resilience and better cope with life’s challenges. Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, reinforces the merits of building resilience in bouncing back from the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband.

An American Heart Association Study reports that resilience training may be a useful primary prevention strategy for employers to improve employee health and engagement. 73 percent of training participants report positive outcomes and say it improved health a great deal or a fair amount.

A Mayo Clinic note suggests that resilience training that focuses on emotional, cognitive and mental, physical, and spiritual resilience can enhance your quality of life, and decrease your stress and anxiety by teaching you to view life's inevitable challenges as opportunities.

Correspondingly, PwC’s Global Crisis and Resilience Survey 2023 reports the response on resilience for organisations seems to involve accountability at the top. 93 percent of organisations with a resilience programme in place have established a C-level sponsor. In fact, 33 percent of respondents have named their CEO as the executive sponsor for resilience. 31 percent of businesses report that they plan to invest in personal and emotional resilience over the next two years.

When considering resilience training and design, the American Heart Association report recommends including these components:

* Overcoming Interpersonal Challenges

* Managing Emotions

* Guarding Against Burnout

* Coping with Work Related Stress

* Improving Sleep Habits

* Remaining Calm

* Dealing with Difficult People

* Improving Communication Skills

* Taking on New Challenges

* Improving Physical Health

Correlation To Engagement And Retention

Engaged employees are more likely to have colleagues who are also engaged, creating a positive work environment that can enhance resilience. Engaged employees are also more likely to have a sense of purpose, which is closely tied to resilience.

For new age tech companies, this sense of overall purpose and cultivated resilience often helps them ride over the stress of ambiguity and shifting goalposts in a constantly failing and innovating environment, as evidenced at close quarters by this author, while consulting with a Boston company.

KPMG research in April 2023 uncovered that 73 percent of CEOs are most concerned about their ability to retain talent. “To effectively mitigate these impacts and reduce stress on the business, organisations should put their people first and invest in building workforce resilience”.

The Mountain Goat

Why does it survive, even thrive, in harsh conditions?

Adaptation: Their large lungs and strong hearts enable them to cope with the low oxygen levels found at high elevations. A big heart, anyone? And powerful lungs? – learning to breathe in and breathe out – symbolising patience, resilience and EQ!

Thick Skin: To endure cold temperatures and rocky surfaces in their alpine habitats, mountain goats have a thick, insulating coat of fur. Seems like it helps to keep a thick skin.

Social Behaviour: Mountain goats often travel in groups. It helps deter predators, allows them to share information about food sources and safe routes, and provides social support. Well, the pandemic showed us that we need each other, even the stranger, if ‘revenge travel’ is anything to go by. As the African proverb goes, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’.

Building Resilience

Let’s explore some practical strategies for strengthening this valuable trait:

1. Cultivate purpose and a growth mindset

2. Develop problem-solving skills

3. Build a supportive network

4. Practice self-care

5. Set realistic goals

6. Develop Emotional Intelligence

7. Learn from adversity

8. Practice mindfulness and stress management

9. Seek professional help

Resilience, thus, empowers us to face adversity with strength, courage, and determination, ultimately leading to personal growth and success. Whether in our personal lives, careers, or relationships, resilience is a trait that can be cultivated and refined over time.

You’ll then be the GOAT!

Navin Tauro is a global leadership expert. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.