Seven Strengths of Resilience

Renowned human development expert Dr. Ginsburg proposed that there are seven integral and interrelated components that make up being resilient:  competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control.

1. Competence – is the ability to know how to handle stressful situations effectively. It requires having the skills to face challenges, and having had the opportunity to practice using these skills so that one feels competent in dealing with situations.

2. Confidence – is the belief in one’s own abilities and is rooted in competence. Professionals gain confidence by being able to demonstrate their competence in real situations and working to identify individual strengths.

3. Connection – professionals with close ties to friends, family, and community groups are likely to have a stronger sense of security and sense of belonging. These individuals are more likely to have strong values and are less likely to seek out alternative destructive behaviors.

4. Character – individuals with “character” enjoy a strong sense of self-worth and confidence. They are in touch with their values and are comfortable sticking to them while demonstrating a caring attitude towards others. They have a strong sense of right and wrong and are prepared to make wise choices and contribute to the world.

5. Contribution – if professionals can experience personally contributing to the world, they can learn the powerful lesson that the world is a better place because they are in it. Hearing the thank you’s and appreciation from colleagues and leadership will increase their willingness to take actions and make choices that improve the world and their organization, thereby enhancing their own competence, character, and sense of connection.

6. Coping – professionals who have a wide repertoire of coping skills (social skills, stress reduction skills) are able to cope more effectively and are better prepared to overcome professional and life challenges. Our resilience groups teach both stress-reduction skills and social skills for coping with everyday work and life stresses.

7. Control – when professionals realize that they have control over their decisions and actions, they are more likely to know how to make choices in a way that they enable them to bounce back from work and life challenges.