Navigating a sudden, deep and widespread crisis, like a global pandemic, requires a level of calm and resilience in coaches that isn’t called forth every day or even in most lifetimes. Science offers us the concept of Psychological Capital (PsyCap): the resources in your psychological bank accounts that keep yourself, your teams and your organizations positive, responsive, agile and effective.
PsyCap is a robust construct which has emerged from positive psychology over the past 15 years. It comprises four resources that make the acronym HERO: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism.
4 Ways to Invest in Synergistic HERO Resources (and stay positive!)
1. Be a realistic optimist
Anticipate favorable outcomes while also exploring and preparing for worst case scenarios. It’s important to have a plan in place for worst cases, but too much preparation toward the negative can become paralyzing as fear dominates your mind and your mood. Make equal time to carefully explore upside opportunities for a better future that, with intention and attention, can emerge from a crisis. Ask yourself:
- What new skills can be developed?
- What mindset shifts, behaviors and processes can improve the future?
Imaging potential wins offers a healthy dose of optimism for people, teams and organizations
2. Generate hope that is grounded
In a crisis, you need short-term goals that are meaningful, motivating and appropriate for the situation at hand. Invest in the willpower and way power that keeps the flame of hope burning. Investing in hope means designing goals that bring willpower. Then, you can ground those goals by generating at least three pathways to accomplish them. The creativity sparked by the generative process increases the hopeful belief that we have the agility, flexibility and ingenuity to adapt a way forward no matter what stands in our way.
3. Cultivate efficiency to bolster confidence
A healthy level of confidence spring you into action. Craft actionable steps each day that challenge you without overwhelming. If you’re building confidence, break challenges into manageable steps. Encourage reflection on what boosts confidence by asking yourself: What will it take to improve my confidence of a positive outcome? Celebrate small victories to reinforce confidence, especially during times when your confidence levels feel fragile.
4. Strengthen resilience
Be proactive in finding the good in difficult situations to help you bounce back faster from setbacks. Realistic optimism, grounded hope, and gradual improvements in confidence can aid in resilience during tough times. Positive emotions, like gratitude, connection with others, compassion, zest for life, purpose, and teamwork, also contribute to resilience. Take care of your body through exercise, nutrition, and sleep to strengthen your psychological resilience and immune system.
PsyCap isn’t a finite resource; it grows exponentially. The more you gain for yourself, the more you’re able to share with those around you. As a coach, you must ensure that you’re grounded in positivity in order to give our clients what they need. What a fantastic investment!
