Resilience as a mindset
Nasia, an architect and Daniel, a property developer, are an ambitious couple which joined forces and they are working together in Athens, running a boutique real estate development firm. Their firm has a great passion for design and construction excellence. Recently, we were talking about resiliency and how it can be integrated more into their professions. I was very interested in understanding their way of thinking and how they overcome obstacles and challenges in their professional routine.
Where do you find resiliency in your professional daily routine? Do you think resiliency is a skill?
[Nasia]: Tackling daily issues that arise in our profession, with a calm and rational nature is key. Talking to and supporting each other and analysing what is the best course of action helps us rationalise each situation and builds our confidence for dealing with future issues.
[Daniel]: Building strong relationships with clients and external collaborators is also very important. If they understand your ethos and trust you from the outset, they will support you during difficult situations. Resiliency is definitely a valuable skill that we practice subconsciously on a daily basis. Developing your resilience skills means you will better be able to look for solutions when things get tricky.
How do you adapt to new shifts like new software, government regulations, client demands? (which methods do you use)
[Daniel]: By staying informed through media and other professionals we try to anticipate a change as best we can. Sometimes a shift can be obvious, such as the announcement of a new legislation whereas other times more critical thinking needs to be applied.
[Nasia]: By keeping an open mind on how different fields can affect each other in the future, it can also give us an insight on future shifts.
How do you prioritise tasks and how do you handle a stressful day?
[Nasia]: We have long term goals and short term tasks which we set out to accomplish. In order to achieve a long term goal, the daily tasks may change throughout a day. Being flexible to change and learning to cope with it calmly even during stressful situations, helps us build resiliency.
[Daniel]: Discussing with and reminding each other of our long term goals, helps us stay focused regarding what needs to be accomplished and relieves stress.
According to Maddi and Khoshaba study, commitment, control and challenge are three variables that are strongly associated with the individuals’ ability to control their stress.
“Simply put these attitudes are commitment, control, and challenge. As time gets tough, if you hold these attitudes, you’ll believe that it is best to stay involved with the people and events around you (commitment) rather than to pull out, to keep trying to influence the outcomes in which you are involved (control) rather than give up, and to try and discover how you can grow through the stress (challenge) rather than to bemoan your fate” (Maddi & Khoshaba)
Did you ever miss a deadline (thinking about what you learnt, how you dealt with it, were you honest and accountable? and what you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again)
[Daniel]: Letting down a client or a collaborator is one of the most difficult things we had to deal with. Honesty is the best way and leads to a better long term relationship with each party.
[Nasia]: Creating a schedule of tasks and deliverables is also important. Although the priority of tasks may change along the way, having a clear image of what needs to be accomplished helps you stay on top of deadlines.
Did you have to start something all over again? How did you handle it? Would you do something differently next time?
[Nasia]: Yes, our profession is highly based on subjective criteria such as aesthetics and we need to be open to criticism. By discussing with the client what exactly they don’t agree with, you build more trust, showing you actually want to satisfy them.
[Daniel]: Quality control throughout the entire process is also important to our success. When we are dissatisfied with a result on the construction site, we need to correct it. The quality of the end result is what satisfies our client and may lead to referrals.
Tell me about a time when you received bad feedback from a client. How did you feel? Did this make you change your behaviour and how? What would you do differently the next time this will happen?
[Daniel]: We have found that in many cases negative feedback is due to misunderstandings. By making a more robust agreement from the beginning and explaining the process in a simple yet detailed manner, we try to eliminate these misunderstandings or discuss them calmly with clients should they occur.
[Nasia]: We also remind ourselves that we are ultimately providing a service. It is in our hands to provide a good or bad experience to the client. Discussing with clients what they are dissatisfied with not only helps us improve the process for the future, but lets them know we care and will deliver at the end of the day.
It is important to highlight that resilience is a critical life-skill that has roots to the humankind’s survival. Positivity, mindfulness, balance and reflection are some examples of how we can develop that skill as professionals.
Sources:
<Maddi, S., & Khoshaba, D. (2005). Resilience at work: how to succeed no matter what life throws at you. New York: American Management Association.>
