1. Are you tough enough? Yvonne Birks yvonne.birks@york.ac.uk
So I will start by saying
Yes you are! If you want to be and you work hard enough and a bit of being in the right place at the right time never hurt anyone.
I have sat through so many talks about the magic formula for an academic career. Brilliant but often slightly intimidating people who have achieved something amazing.
Been intimidated by those brilliant perky people whose meteroric rise to fame seems effortless
I really hope this isnt what you are about to sit through
Well I know it isnt
I am neither brilliant nor perky! Never have been
Im a grafter , a slogger, a safe pare of hands trevor once referred to me as a
mentsh An honorable, decent person, an authentic person, a person who helps you when you need help. Can be a man, woman or child.
So if you were in the talk for the academic genius who cracked the achievement code ..wrong talk.

2. What is Resilience?
Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity.
It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences.
Resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary.
People commonly demonstrate resilience.

3. Developing resilience
Resilient people do experience difficulty and strong feelings
It involves behaviours, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.
Primarily it seems to involve supportive relationships that create trust, provide role models, and offer encouragement and reassurance
The capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out
A positive view of yourself and confidence in your strengths and abilities
Skills in communication and problem solving
The capacity to manage strong feelings and impulses
Its not something you do or don’t have
These are things individuals can foster and develop

4. Strategies For Building Resilience
Developing resilience is a personal journey
Not all people react the same way or use the same strategies

5. My story Probably isn't that useful its just my experience
10 years as a nurse
BSc then PhD (psychology) at York
First job as a trial coordinator at York
More trials, outcome measurement/developmentPatient safety. Complex interventions
Fellowship
If I can do it you can do it
What I am sharing is not a how to do it. Its observations over a number of years about what I think people saw in me and what I see in others.
How I learned my resilience strategies and what it felt like

6. Get experience Step by step As much as you can
Recognise what you don’t know
Don’t feel tied to an area/method
Move if that makes sense for you
You can work on things that may not seem to fit together.
Become a safe pair of hands
The more experience you get the more resilient you will become.

7. Academic life can be tough
Rejection is a way of life!
Volunteer
Do a good job
Try not to ask questions all the time but know when to ask for help
Admit to mistakes and learn
Shoulder some of the load of others
Learn what is useful and what is not
Write write write write……..
If you are working hard others will recognise it even if they don’t always remember to tell you.

8. Support
Hugely varied
Support will come from both expected and unexpected places
Look for people who give you feedback that challenges not just people who tell you how great/useful you are
Build networks carefully
LISTEN

9. Be prepared to feel uncomfortable
It doesn’t get easier
Learning is often uncomfortable
Positives/negatives
Harness it
Problem solving and communication skills

10. Believe…and practice..
Not everyone can be the Lancet/BMJ/NEJM investigator
When you can, chose something YOU are interested in
Then be flexible in your thinking about opportunities
Practice
Accept how long it takes

11. Try again and other trite nonsense..
Timing
Reflect
Learn
Be realistic
Make tough decisions
Move on…what ever that looks like
Good luck!