Resilience in the Workplace
Goal: Understand how resilience leads to growth and long-term success in the workplace.
“In construction, plans change and problems are constant. Grit is what keeps a crew showing up, solving problems, and finishing strong.”
– Luis Ramirez, Construction Site Manager
Reflect: What is an example of grit in your job or at school?
4
Relevant
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from challenges or setbacks, and keep going even when things get difficult.
Vocabulary
Grit: The ability to keep going, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
Adversity: Difficult situations or challenges that require effort and resilience to overcome.
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
Choose a category to reveal a get-to-know-you question.
4
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
If you could pick any role model to advise your future self, who would you choose, and why?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
If you had a choice to either give up social media for the rest of your life or only have 3 close friends for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Why?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
Would you rather work for a startup or a well-established company? Why?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
What is something you don’t know how to do, that you want to learn?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
If you could solve 1 problem in the world, what would it be? Why?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
What talent or skill do you think the world needs more of? Why?
7 CATEGORIES
Connection
What is a challenge you've faced, either in the past or currently, and what did you learn from it?
Why: Demonstrating resilience boosts motivation, adaptability, and increases long-term career success.
Resilience in
the Workplace
16
Stress is a natural part of life.
A common source of stress is the adversity we encounter at work.
Today, we'll examine 2 strategies we can use to practice resilience in the face of stress.
1/2
Resilience
in the Workplace
RESILIENCE STRATEGY #1
Reframe the Challenge
1/4
Reframing the Challenge =
When have you learned from adversity?
Dr. Angela Duckworth, author of Grit, emphasizes the importance of viewing adversity as a "teacher" rather than an inconvenience.
2
Thinking about the situation from a different perspective
Avoiding a negative mindset
Focusing on growth
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
True
OR
False
1/4
False - Enforces a negative mindset
“I’m just not good at this.”
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
True
OR
False
1/4
False - Focuses on failure not growth
“I didn’t do well on my first certification test, I'm not cut out for this job.”
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
True
OR
False
1/4
True - Turns challenge into opportunity
“That feedback on my evaluation was tough
to hear, but it might
help me grow.”
Reframing the Challenge =
With a partner, practice Reframing the Challenge with a few statements.
2
Advance slides to reveal statements
- “I messed up during the presentation.”
- “This project is harder than I expected.”
- “I didn’t get the job.”
- “My workload is overwhelming right now.”
Example: “I learned what to do differently next time.”
Mindset Shift: Growth instead of negativity
Spotting the opportunity
Viewing adversity as a teacher
RESILIENCE STRATEGY #2
Buffalo Resilience
Buffalo Resilience =
Spot the reasons why Buffalo Resilience is effective in the video on the next slide.
1
Confronting the challenge head-on instead of avoiding
3
Be a Buffalo
The video described “running into
the storm” as both a definition of resilience and a strategy for building it.
What is an example of "running into the storm" in your job or at school?
Why can Buffalo Resilience be effective?
2
Resilience
in the Workplace
1. Self-Advocate
Ask for the support you need—you’re worth it.
2. Own the Outcome
Stick with it.
Take responsibility.
4. Listen and Learn
Be open to feedback.
Prepare for pushback.
3. Prioritize Well-Being
Practice gratitude.
Set boundaries to protect personal time.
What does
Buffalo Resilience specifically mean
in the workplace?
Buffalo Resilience
Quick Poll: Which practice is the most challenging for you?
3
Resilience sets us up to accomplish something great—something that can make us proud.
Reflect on something you’ve accomplished that makes you truly proud.
With a partner, share your accomplishment and what obstacles you had to overcome.
CONSIDER THIS
2
EXTEND
OR
Click to choose how to move on
END
With a partner, pick 1 of the scenarios and discuss the questions. Then share with the whole group.
6
How could you
Reframe the Challenge?
How could you practice
Buffalo Resilience?
Advance slides to
reveal questions
Scenario 1: Not being selected for the job you applied for.
Scenario 2: Entering a new environment (e.g. job, school) where you have no relationships.
Today, we explored how Reframing Challenges and practicing Buffalo Resilience are powerful ways to help us overcome challenges.
The next time you face something tough, practice facing it head-on like a buffalo — it might help you grow.
REVIEW
Learning Objective
1/2
Why: Demonstrating resilience boosts motivation, adaptability, and increases long-term career success.
Resilience in
the Workplace
16
Virtual Version
Stress is a natural part of life.
A common source of stress is the adversity we encounter at work.
Today, we'll examine 2 strategies we can use to practice resilience in the face of stress.
1/2
Resilience
in the Workplace
RESILIENCE STRATEGY #1
Reframe the Challenge
1/4
Reframing the Challenge =
When have you learned from adversity?
Dr. Angela Duckworth, author of Grit, emphasizes the importance of viewing adversity as a "teacher" rather than an inconvenience.
2
Thinking about the situation from a different perspective
Avoiding a negative mindset
Focusing on growth
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
True
OR
False
1/4
False - Enforces a negative mindset
“I’m just not good at this.”
Share a 1 (true), or 2 (false) in the chat.
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
1/4
False - Focuses on failure not growth
“I didn’t do well on my first certification test, I'm not cut out for this job.”
Share a 1 (true), or 2 (false) in the chat.
True
OR
False
Is this Reframing the Challenge?
1/4
True - Turns challenge into opportunity
“That feedback on my evaluation was tough
to hear, but it might
help me grow.”
Share a 1 (true), or 2 (false) in the chat.
True
OR
False
Reframing the Challenge =
In the chat, practice Reframing the Challenge with a few statements.
2
Advance slides to reveal statements
- “I messed up during the presentation.”
- “This project is harder than I expected.”
- “I didn’t get the job.”
- “My workload is overwhelming right now.”
Example: “I learned what to do differently next time.”
Mindset Shift: Growth instead of negativity
Spotting the opportunity
Viewing adversity as a teacher
RESILIENCE STRATEGY #2
Buffalo Resilience
Buffalo Resilience =
Spot the reasons why Buffalo Resilience is effective in the video on the next slide.
1
Confronting the challenge head-on instead of avoiding
3
Be a Buffalo
The video described “running into
the storm” as both a definition of resilience and a strategy for building it.
What is an example of "running into the storm" in your job or at school?
Why can Buffalo Resilience be effective?
2
Resilience
in the Workplace
1. Self-Advocate
Ask for the support you need—you’re worth it.
2. Own the Outcome
Stick with it.
Take responsibility.
4. Listen and Learn
Be open to feedback.
Prepare for pushback.
3. Prioritize Well-Being
Practice gratitude.
Set boundaries to protect personal time.
What does
Buffalo Resilience specifically mean
in the workplace?
Buffalo Resilience
Quick Poll: Which practice is the most challenging for you?
3
Resilience sets us up to accomplish something great—something that can make us proud.
Reflect on something you’ve accomplished that makes you truly proud.
With a partner, share your accomplishment and what obstacles you had to overcome.
CONSIDER THIS
2
EXTEND
OR
Click to choose how to move on
END
As a class, pick 1 of the scenarios and discuss the questions.
6
How could you
Reframe the Challenge?
How could you practice
Buffalo Resilience?
Advance slides to
reveal questions
Scenario 1: Not being selected for the job you applied for.
Scenario 2: Entering a new environment (e.g. job, school) where you have no relationships.
Today, we explored how Reframing Challenges and practicing Buffalo Resilience are powerful ways to help us overcome challenges.
The next time you face something tough, practice facing it head-on like a buffalo — it might help you grow.
REVIEW
Learning Objective
1/2