Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant sources of stress. Resilience means bouncing back from difficulties. The philosopher Epictetus said “we suffer not from the events in our lives but from our judgment about them”

1. 15 TIPS TO BUILD RESILIENCE
FOR
FRONTLINE WORKERS
LEARNING TO BOUNCE BACK
Rex@rexgatto.com
412-344-2277
Rex P. Gatto, Ph.D., BCC

2. Assessing Your Daily Mind Set
 Every day is a test of resilience.
 Each day has successes and disappointments.
 Do you measure your ability to cope, succeed, and
overcome?
 People are built to persevere!
 Do you build your self-esteem on your successes, what
you do, and or your accomplishments?

3. CHALLENGE
Could you remove
a 300 lb. boulder?

4. Do You View Your First Task of the Day as an
Accomplishment?
 Getting up
 Family needs
 Getting ready
 Getting to work on time
 Performing job responsibilities
 Give yourself credit for Accomplishments!

5. Do You Have a Distorted Negative
View
 Negative view of self — anxiousness, avoidance,
worry about competence
 Negative view of the future — anxiousness,
(hopeless), CYA fear — change
 Negative view of experience — stop taking action,
anxious, depression, worry

6. Recovery
Recovery: a temporarily decline in normal functioning
after being exposed to unfavorable life
circumstances/trauma for a period of time, then gradually
returns to pre-event functioning
Outcome is:
Physical trauma (broken bone, concussion - heal)
Burned out/Anxiety/Depression Mood (motivated)
Post Traumatic Stress (replaced with positivity)

7. What is Resilience
 Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of
adversity, trauma, or significant sources of stress.
 Resilience means bouncing back from difficulties.
 Resilience can be learned by everyone.
 Resilience doesn’t mean not having distress.

8.  Reflecting on your ability to recover quickly, and
adjustment from difficulties and return to a healthy mind-
set
 Adapting well from adversity, overcoming trauma, or on
going stress
Resilience is…..

9. Resilience
People exposed to violent or life-threatening events, or on
going struggles will show a genuine resilience that should
not be interfered with.
Return or find a new mental framework of
I can…. I will….
It is the comeback from the trauma

10. Tip #1 Define Resilience
 Mental Reframing and Expanded Views
 Be aware of your Behaviors
 Learn and develop problem Solving Skills
 Explore New Ways of Thinking
 Positive View of Self and the Future
 Take the Right Actions
 Implement Realistic Plans

11.  Take stock of what you know to be true
 Give yourself credit for successes
 Develop a belief in yourself
 Network with others, find a confidant or peer coach
 Create a coping plan, write how you will overcome
adversity, don’t just think it
 Control what you can control
Tip #2 Keys to Being Resilient

12.  Write a Vision statement or Goals (what is your
purpose)
 What have you done this month to advance toward
fulfilling your Vision?
 Realize the persistence to continue is a learning
process and right of passage
 We are social beings, find a collaborator, confidant, or
peer coach
Tip #3 Actions that Lead to Resilience

13. Actions that Lead to Resilience
Vision/Goal Advancement
toward
Vision/Goal; Goal
Accomplishments
Learnings Collaborator/
Peer Coach

14. Tip #4 Create Belief in ME
The key to peoples’ capacity to achieve resilience
is determined by their ability to have a positive
view of life and the future.

15. Tip #5 Have the Will to Succeed
 Commitment to take action
 Belief in yourself to do it
 Growth Mind Set
 Learn for your Successes: what am I Doing Right
 Learn from your Mistakes: what can I do differently

16. Tip #6 Have Commitment
I can find a meaningful purpose for my life as a Frontline
Worker.
Taking Action is a Risk, Stop, Reflect, and do what is right

17.  Influence my surroundings and life events
 Attitude check, my mental evaluation
 I am a Victor - Not a victim
 I am a survivor!
(Story of Louis Zamperini WWII POW - book
Unbroken)
Tip #7 Influencing
Belief

18. Tip #8 Growth Mindset
 I can learn and grow from positive and negative life experiences.
 Do not be afraid to compete against yourself.
Life is like a golf game, the course is your job and each swing is your
challenge.
~ Rex Gatto

19. Tip #9 Achieving Resilience
 Distinct from recovery
 Can be reached in many different ways:
Emotional outlook, Religion, Flexibility, Self-
understanding, Expressing your feelings, Meditation,
Focus toward the future
 Work with a peer Coach

20. Tip #10 Write a Resilience Plan
 Reflect
 Plan
 Act
 Adjust

21. I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing
I know: the ones among you who will be really happy
are those who have sought and found how to serve”
~ Albert Schweitzer

22. Tip#11 Having Hope
 The feelings of expectation and future desire for a
certain outcome – hope.
 Knowing I will attain that certain outcome.
 Your strength and conviction to meet the challenge of
the struggle

23. Tips #12a Creating Strategies
 Reach out to resources: peer coach, family, a
professional colleague, friends or coworkers
 Set realistic goals and think optimistically: mentally
have hope
 See crisis as a problem to be resolved, solved and a
have a desire to move forward

24. Tips #12b Creating Strategies
 Act on the situation; do something, be engaged
 Discover yourself; like what you see
 Self awareness and managing emotions, motivation,
compassion, and interpersonal relationships (emotional
intelligence)

25. Tip#13a Learning and Developmental Questions
(write you answers)
 What stresses you?
 What do you do when stressed?
 Who has provided support to you?
 Have you helped yourself and others?

26. Tip#13b Learning and Developmental
Questions
(write you answers)
 How have you overcome obstacles?
 Why do you feel more hopeful?
 What motivates you to act?
 Who inspires you?

27. Tip #14 How To Dealing with Inner
Pressure
Am I my own resident critic?
Listen to self-talk (be positive)
Do you have a monster in your head?
Stop the negative tape
Invent hopeful, positive messages, write a positive
affirmation of why you are successful

28. Tip #15 3P’s
 Prioritizing (organize, what’s important)
 Planning (where are you where are you going
 Paring Down (don’t have to do it all)

29. Looking for Help
 A Peer Coach
 Self-help or support groups
 Online: information, groups,
 Books, articles
 Mediation, prayer

30. Summary: Building Resilience
 Take action toward
goals
 Make Connections
 Avoid seeing crisis as
insurmountable
 Accept that change is
part of living
 Be decisive
 Look for opportunities
for self-discovery
 Nurture a positive view
of yourself
 Maintain a hopeful
outlook

31. Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
412-344-2277
rex@rexgatto.com
www.rexgatto.com
To explore what coaching
can do for you, give us a
call.