Mastering Adversity in Business: A Review of ‘Resilient’ by Rick Hanson

In the ever-changing world of business, the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to challenges, and thrive under pressure is invaluable. This resilience is not just a desirable trait but a necessary skill for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Rick Hanson’s book “Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness” offers profound insights into developing this crucial quality. While not specifically written for a business audience, the principles and practices outlined in “Resilient” have significant applications in the professional realm.

This comprehensive review will explore how the wisdom in “Resilient” can be applied to foster business growth, enhance leadership skills, and cultivate a resilient mindset in the face of entrepreneurial challenges. We’ll examine Hanson’s science-backed approaches, his emphasis on neuroplasticity, and his practical strategies for building inner strength and adaptability.

The Genesis of ‘Resilient’

Before delving into the book’s teachings, it’s essential to understand the context in which “Resilient” was written. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Centre at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His work focuses on the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and contemplative practices.

“Resilient” is the culmination of Hanson’s decades of research and practice in helping individuals develop inner strength and well-being. While the book is not specifically targeted at business leaders, its principles are universally applicable, offering valuable insights for anyone facing challenges and seeking to build resilience.

Core Principles of ‘Resilient’

At its heart, “Resilient” advocates for a proactive approach to developing inner strength and well-being. Hanson argues that by deliberately cultivating positive experiences and mental states, we can build up psychological resources that help us weather life’s storms. Let’s explore the core principles that form the foundation of Hanson’s approach to resilience:

1. Neuroplasticity is key.

Hanson emphasises the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life, a concept known as neuroplasticity. This principle is crucial for entrepreneurs and business leaders, as it suggests that resilience can be developed and strengthened over time through consistent practice.

2. The Power of Positive Experiences

A central tenet of “resilient” is the importance of not just having positive experiences but actively internalising them. Hanson introduces the concept of “taking in the good,” which involves deliberately focusing on and savouring positive moments to create lasting changes in the brain.

3. Building inner strength

Hanson identifies 12 crucial inner strengths, organised into three categories: compassion, mindfulness, and learning. He argues that developing these strengths creates a robust foundation for resilience.

4. The HEAL Approach

Hanson introduces the HEAL approach (Have, Enrich, Absorb, Link) as a practical method for internalising positive experiences and building inner strengths.

5. Balancing, Avoiding Harms, and Pursuing Rewards

The book discusses the importance of balancing our innate tendencies to avoid harm and pursue rewards, suggesting that resilience comes from skillfully navigating both aspects of experience.

Practical Lessons for Business Resilience

Now that we’ve explored the core principles, let’s delve into how the teachings of “resilient” can be applied in a business context:

1. Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Hanson’s emphasis on neuroplasticity aligns closely with the concept of a growth mindset, popularised by psychologist Carol Dweck. For entrepreneurs, cultivating a growth mindset means viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Application: Encourage your team to embrace challenges and see failures as learning experiences. Celebrate effort and progress, not just outcomes.

2. Leveraging Positive Experiences

The practice of “taking in the good” can be particularly powerful in a business context, where it’s easy to focus on problems and overlook successes.

Application: Implement a regular practice of acknowledging and celebrating wins, no matter how small. This could be a part of team meetings or a dedicated “wins” channel in your communication platform.

3. Developing Compassion in Leadership

Hanson’s emphasis on compassion as a key inner strength has significant implications for leadership. Compassionate leaders are better able to understand and support their team members, leading to increased trust and productivity.

Application: Practice active listening and empathy in your interactions with team members. Implement policies that demonstrate care for employee well-being.

4. Mindfulness for Decision-Making

The mindfulness practices outlined in “Resilient” can be powerful tools for improving decision-making and managing stress in high-pressure business situations.

Application: Introduce short mindfulness exercises at the beginning of meetings or encourage employees to take “mindfulness breaks” throughout the day.

5. Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Hanson’s focus on learning as a key inner strength aligns well with the need for businesses to continuously adapt and innovate.

Application: Foster a culture of continuous learning in your organization. This could include regular training sessions, book clubs, or allocating time for employees to pursue personal development projects.

6. Implementing the HEAL Approach in Business

The HEAL approach (Have, Enrich, Absorb, Link) can be adapted to help internalise business lessons and successes.

Application: After completing a project or reaching a milestone, guide your team through the HEAL process. Have them reflect on what went well, enrich the experience by discussing details, absorb the feelings of success, and link these positive feelings to future challenges.

7. Balancing Risk and Reward

Hanson’s discussion of balancing harm avoidance and reward pursuit is particularly relevant in business, where managing risk is crucial.

Application: When making strategic decisions, consciously consider both potential risks and rewards. Strive for a balanced approach that neither avoids all risk nor pursues reward recklessly.

8. Building Resilience in Teams

While much of “resilient” focuses on individual practices, these principles can be applied to build resilience at a team level.

Application: Incorporate resilience-building exercises into team-building activities. This could include group meditation, sharing personal growth stories, or collaborative problem-solving exercises.

9. Emotional Intelligence in Business

Many of the practices in “Resilient” contribute to enhanced emotional intelligence, a crucial skill for business leaders.

Application: Use Hanson’s exercises for developing compassion and mindfulness to enhance your ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others.

10. Stress Management for Entrepreneurs

The techniques outlined in “Resilient” offer powerful tools for managing the high stress levels often experienced by entrepreneurs.

Application: Implement regular stress-management practices such as meditation, gratitude journaling, or physical exercise into your daily routine.

Applying ‘Resilient’ Wisdom to Different Business Stages

The principles in “Resilient” can be applied at various stages of business growth. Let’s explore how these lessons can be leveraged at different points in a company’s lifecycle:

Startup Phase

During the initial stages of a business, entrepreneurs can benefit from Hanson’s advice to:

1. Cultivate a growth mindset to navigate the uncertainties of starting a new venture.
2. Use mindfulness practices to stay focused and make clear decisions amid chaos.
3. Leverage the HEAL approach to internalise early wins and build confidence.
4. Develop compassion to build strong relationships with co-founders, early employees, and initial customers.
5. Practice stress-management techniques to handle the pressures of launching a business.

Growth Phase

As businesses begin to scale, the following lessons become particularly relevant:

1. Use the principles of neuroplasticity to adapt to rapid changes and new challenges.
2. Implement team-wide practices for “taking in the good” to maintain morale during growth.
3. Leverage mindfulness techniques to make strategic decisions about scaling.
4. Develop compassionate leadership practices to manage a growing team effectively.
5. Balance risk and reward carefully when making decisions about expansion.

Maturity Phase

For established businesses looking to maintain their success and potentially explore new avenues, Hanson’s wisdom suggests:

1. Continue learning and adapting to stay relevant in changing markets.
2. Use mindfulness practices to stay innovative and avoid complacency.
3. Implement organisation-wide resilience-building practices to maintain a dynamic company culture.
4. Leverage emotional intelligence skills to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
5. Use the HEAL approach to internalise long-term successes and build a lasting legacy.

Critiques and Limitations of ‘Resilient’

While “Resilient” offers valuable insights, it’s important to consider some potential limitations when applying its principles to a business context:

1. Individual Focus: The book primarily focuses on individual practices, which may need adaptation for team or organisational use.
2. Time Investment: Many of the practices require consistent time investment, which may be challenging in fast-paced business environments.
3. Cultural Considerations: Some of the mindfulness and compassion practices may be perceived differently in various cultural contexts.
4. Lack of Business-Specific Examples: As the book isn’t specifically written for a business audience, readers need to creatively apply the principles to their professional lives.
5. Overwhelm Potential: With 12 inner strengths to develop, some readers might feel overwhelmed about where to start.

Despite these potential limitations, the core principles and practices in “Resilient” remain highly relevant and valuable for entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking to build personal and professional resilience.

Complementary Readings for a Holistic Approach

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of resilience in a business context, entrepreneurs might consider pairing “Resilient” with other influential books. Here are a few recommendations:

1. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth offers additional insights into the importance of perseverance in achieving long-term goals.
2. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck provides a deeper dive into the concept of growth mindset, which complements Hanson’s emphasis on neuroplasticity.
3. “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” by Daniel Goleman expands on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership and business success.
4. “The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph” by Ryan Holiday offers a stoic perspective on resilience that can complement Hanson’s approach.
5. “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World” by Cal Newport provides strategies for the kind of focused attention that complements the mindfulness practices in “Resilient.”

Implementing ‘Resilient’ Principles in Your Business

To truly benefit from the wisdom in “Resilient,” entrepreneurs need to move beyond reading and into implementation. Here are some practical steps to apply Hanson’s principles to your business:

1. Start a Daily Mindfulness Practice: Begin each workday with a short mindfulness exercise. This could be as simple as a few minutes of focused breathing or a brief body scan.
2. Implement a “Wins” ritual: At the end of each week, have team members share their wins, big or small. Guide them through the healing process to internalise these positive experiences.
3. Create a Gratitude Culture: Encourage expressing gratitude in your organization. This could be through a dedicated Slack channel, a section in team meetings, or a company-wide gratitude journal.
4. Develop compassionate policies: Review your company policies through the lens of compassion. Are there ways you can better support your employees’ well-being?
5. Invest in Emotional Intelligence Training: Provide training for your leadership team on emotional intelligence, incorporating Hanson’s teachings on compassion and mindfulness.
6. Establish Learning Opportunities: Create structured opportunities for continuous learning in your organisation, such as a company book club, lunch-and-learn sessions, or allocated time for personal development projects.
7. Practice Resilient Decision-Making: When facing important decisions, consciously apply Hanson’s principles. Balance risk and reward, use mindfulness to clarify your thinking, and approach the situation with compassion for all stakeholders.
8. Incorporate resilience into performance reviews. Add resilience-related metrics to your performance review process. This could include how employees handle setbacks, their ability to adapt to change, or their contributions to team morale.
9. Create a Resilience Resource Library: Compile resources (articles, videos, exercises) based on “Resilient” and make them available to your team for self-guided learning.
10. Model Resilient Leadership: As a leader, embody the principles of resilience in your own behaviour. Share your own experiences applying these concepts, including both successes and challenges.

Conclusion: The Enduring Relevance of ‘Resilient’ in Business

In a business world characterised by rapid change, intense competition, and unprecedented challenges, the principles outlined in “Resilient” offer a valuable roadmap for developing the inner strength necessary to thrive. While not specifically written for a business audience, Rick Hanson’s science-backed approach to building resilience has profound implications for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The book’s emphasis on neuroplasticity provides hope and direction, reminding us that resilience is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be developed over time. This is particularly encouraging for entrepreneurs who may face repeated setbacks on their journey to success.

Hanson’s practical strategies, such as “taking in the good” and the HEAL approach, offer concrete ways to build psychological resources that can be drawn upon in times of stress or challenge. In a business context, these practices can help leaders and teams maintain motivation, adapt to change, and bounce back from failures.

The focus on compassion as a key component of resilience is especially relevant in today’s business environment, where emotional intelligence and people skills are increasingly recognised as crucial for success. Leaders who can cultivate compassion for themselves and others are better equipped to build strong teams, navigate conflicts, and create positive company cultures.

Moreover, the mindfulness practices outlined in “Resilient” offer powerful tools for improving decision-making, managing stress, and maintaining focus amid the constant distractions of the modern workplace. These skills are invaluable for entrepreneurs, who often need to make critical decisions under pressure.

As you apply these lessons to your own business journey, remember that building resilience is an ongoing process. It requires consistent practice and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. The goal is not to eliminate challenges or stress from your business life—that would be impossible—but to develop the inner resources to navigate these challenges effectively and grow from them.

In a world where business advice often focuses on external strategies and tactics, “resilient” reminds us of the importance of internal development. It suggests that true business success is not just about what we achieve but also about who we become in the process.

By embracing the principles outlined in “Resilient,” entrepreneurs and business leaders can build not just successful companies but fulfilling careers. They can develop the capacity to remain calm under pressure, to bounce back from setbacks, and to lead with compassion and clarity.

In the end, the most valuable lesson from “Resilient” maybe this: our greatest business asset is not our strategy, our product, or even our team—it’s our own resilient mind. By investing in our inner strength and well-being, we create a solid foundation for sustainable success in all areas of life, including business.

As we navigate the complex and often challenging world of entrepreneurship, the wisdom in “Resilient” offers a beacon of hope and a practical path forward. It reminds us that with consistent effort and the right approach, we can develop the resilience needed to weather any storm and emerge stronger on the other side.