Resilience at Work: How to Build a Rebound Mindset that Lasts

May is Mental Health Month, and it’s a timely reminder that our well-being is the foundation for everything we build—at work, in our communities, and in our personal lives. It’s also a chance to explore the tools and mindsets that help us navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs with greater clarity, calm, and confidence.

In the WiT webinar “Creating Resiliency and Adopting the Rebound Mindset,” executive coach Lori Tabb offered insights into how we can develop resilience and lead with intention—even when circumstances feel uncertain or overwhelming. While the session was recorded some time ago, the tools and reflections shared remain strikingly relevant today.

What Is Resilience (Really)?

Resilience isn’t about powering through, pretending everything is fine, or doing it all alone. It’s about navigating challenges with perspective and self-awareness. It’s about recognizing what’s hard, and still choosing to move forward with care.

Resilience means:

• Accepting reality—even when it’s difficult

• Naming our emotions instead of avoiding them

• Reclaiming a sense of control, even in small daily ways

• Asking for help and connection when we need it

• Leading with self-compassion, not self-judgment

The Rebound Mindset: A Shift in Perspective

A rebound mindset helps us move through challenges with intention instead of reaction. It’s the ability to visualize who we want to be on the other side of a tough season—and to begin aligning with that version of ourselves now.

Ask yourself: what would your future self want you to know today? Visualizing where you want to land makes it easier to take meaningful steps forward—even when you can’t see the whole path yet.

Five Practices for Building Resilience

1. Ground Yourself with Intention. Just 90 seconds of mindful breathing can help you reset your energy and shift your state of mind. It’s a powerful (and free) habit to build.

2. Name It to Tame It. Acknowledging your emotions is the first step to managing them. Whether it’s frustration, fear, or fatigue—naming what you feel makes it less overwhelming.

3. Own Your Strengths. What do others come to you for? What do you do naturally well? Reconnecting with your strengths—even in small ways—restores confidence and energy.

   
   
   
   

Lighten Your Load. Protecting your mental health sometimes means ordering dinner instead of cooking, setting clear boundaries, or asking for help. This is not laziness—it’s leadership.

1. Practice Self-Compassion. Some days you’ll crush it. Some days you won’t. Either way, you’re still worthy. Extend the same grace to yourself that you offer to others.

Keep Mental Health at the Core

The demands of business, caregiving, leadership, and life are real—but so is your ability to pause, reflect, and choose how you want to show up. Your mindset matters. So do your boundaries. So does your rest.

When you prioritize mental health, you don’t just feel better—you lead better. And that’s a practice worth building all year long.

This blog is inspired by the WiT Webinar “Creating Resiliency and Adopting the Rebound Mindset” with executive coach Lori Tabb. Watch it on WiT’s Video Library.