On 19th August 2025, we held the first communities of practice in a series focused on the role resilience plays during a turbulent period within the development space. The sessions were held online (taking place at 8am and 2pm BST to accommodate time zones) and we were joined by academics and practitioners from a diverse range of backgrounds, each of whom contributed valuable reflections on the meaning and benefits of personal resilience, as well as the challenges they face in carrying out their vital work.

Natalie Cunningham, Senior Lecturer in Leadership for Development at GDI, facilitated the sessions alongside Louisa Hann, Research Communications Officer, starting with a brief overview of what we mean by resilience. Natalie explained that resilience is sometimes misconstrued as the ability to persevere no matter what. However, such perseverance can be counterintuitive if we’re unable to reflect on where we’re going wrong or to change our perspectives when confronted with complex problems. In other words, people show resilience when they adapt positively to adverse situations, reorienting their personal capacities and skills in response to a given context. As Natalie succinctly underlined, resilience isn’t just a case of bouncing back and recovering – it’s about bouncing forward and thriving.

 

The multi-faceted nature of resilience

While our initial sessions focused on the personal aspects of resilience, Natalie also noted that resilience is demonstrated at different levels – personal; organisational; and societal. When these forms of resilience align and mutually support one another, we can achieve a form of ‘connected resilience’ – a vital component for weathering tough times within the development sector.

The good news is that many practitioners and institutions are starting to appreciate the need for resilience in the face of geopolitical unrest, climate breakdown, swingeing budget cuts, and other major global upheavals. However, the sector lacks a holistic definition of resilience that combines the aforementioned components, leading to a range of disconnected and underdeveloped resilience initiatives.

The purpose of our communities of practice, therefore, is to discuss and work through the different components of resilience and the ways in which they connect, sharing wisdom in a safe and open space. By starting with personal resilience, we considered the foundations of our relationship with resilience and will later build out to consider its wider social role and implications.

 

The four primary components of personal resilience

Natalie sparked initial discussions by asking participants to consider the challenges they face when nurturing the four major components of personal resilience, including:

• Physical resilience: This involves getting enough sleep, looking after our nutrition and diet, and maintaining a movement and exercise regime.
• Cognitive resilience: Such resilience is reflected in our thoughts and the messages we tell ourselves. While some messages can be self-defeating (e.g., “I am overwhelmed and cannot cope”), others can bolster resilience through self-compassion and practical instruction (e.g., “I will manage one step at a time”).
• Emotional and spiritual resilience: This form of resilience encompasses emotional awareness and agility, supporting us to derive meaning and satisfaction from our lives and work.
• Social resilience: Social resilience emphasises the importance of social connections, support systems, and a sense of belonging.

 

How our identity and values can influence resilience

A key theme to have emerged from both sessions relates to the ways in which our identity, purpose and values can influence personal resilience. While strong passions can enrich our professional lives, they can also drive us to work excessive hours and punish ourselves when we fail to meet unattainable goals – a recipe for burnout. Similarly, purpose-driven careers are typically bound up with people’s identities and sense of self-worth. When problems or challenges arise, we might experience crises of identity or feelings of self-doubt that can impact our resilience.

Several participants also traced their professional patterns and behaviours back to their upbringings, noting the impact of early family life on one’s adult identity. For example, certain cultural expectations or family dynamics may demand that a young person suppresses their emotions and remains strong when confronted with adversity – an imperative that may impact their identity in later life. As several participants reflected during the sessions, a significant aspect of building resilience is the ability to step back from these patterns and consider the ways in which they could negatively impact our mental and physical health.

 

Staying resilient in a volatile world

Beyond the impact of our inner critics, participants recognised the potential for external events and stressors to impact resilience. The current news cycle – combined with pressures to scroll and engage with social media – can significantly impact our stress levels. It can also lead to so-called ‘doomscrolling’, wherein we compulsively consume negative news stories without stepping back to breathe and recuperate.

In the long term, this compulsion can exacerbate our anxieties and negatively impact our resilience. Again, recognising and addressing such patterns represents an important step in preventing burnout and pursuing meaningful goals.

 

Transforming self-awareness into practical action

While developing self-awareness is vital for bolstering resilience, many participants stressed their struggles when it comes to translating this awareness into action. For example, while we may know that regular exercise and healthy eating can support our mental and physical health, life’s realities can impact our ability to pursue these goals. Similarly, participants discussed the dangers of forming overly strict or intense habits, to the detriment of others. For example, those who overcorrect inactive lifestyles with excessive exercise regimes may neglect their social or spiritual lives. Building resilience requires a more holistic approach that slots the four components listed above into our busy schedules.

 

How institutions can support or inhibit personal resilience

The institutions in which we spend our working lives can significantly impact our ability to remain resilient during turbulent times. Some participants expressed concerns about losing their sense of identity or purpose in institutions that don’t share their values. Others voiced the need for institutions to provide safe spaces where we can voice our worries and wisdom with colleagues. If we want to achieve the aforementioned connected resilience, we need to nurture organisational cultures committed to this goal.

But how can we transform organisations that are resistant to change? Is it possible for practitioners to influence decision-makers within their organisations to embrace new initiatives and goals? While we primarily raised questions rather than answers during the last communities of practice, we’re going to discuss these complex questions in our September sessions.

 

Join our next community of practice

Keen to join our next discussion? Practitioners, academics, students, and other interested parties are more than welcome to join our communities of practice – titled ‘What does it take to turn toxic organisations into thriving organisations?’ – taking place at 8am and 2pm UK time on Tuesday, 16th September.

Sign up for the 8am session here.

Sign up for the 2pm session here.

Top image by Sage Friedman on Unsplash.

Note:  This article gives the views of the author/academic featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the Global Development Institute as a whole.

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