Increasing resilience reservoir: experience of senior corporate executives

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore senior corporate executives’ perceptions of how the resilience process works for the different type of adversities and the methods they adopt to build a reservoir of resilience. A qualitative research design was adopted. The study uses inductive analysis and thematic coding of narratives of senior executives for theorizing the phenomenon. Personal and environmental adversities affected senior executives. To build resilience, they adopted five identifiable methods, viz. i) leveraging one’s emotions; ii) focusing on one’s strengths and solutions; iii) seeking support from others in the face of adversities; iv) being flexible to the choice of fighting back vs. going with the flow and v) remaining open to creative possibilities.