Building Resilience with AQ

Adversity Quotient®, or AQ®, is the most widely adopted measure and method in the world for gauging and strengthening how people respond to and deal with adversity. People who successfully apply AQ perform optimally when faced with the challenges, big and small, that confront us each day. In fact, they not only learn from these adversities, but they respond to them better and faster, and harness them as motivational fuel to excel in school, work, and life.

AQ science has three important facets—theory, measures, and methods—that stem from 40 years of research, including 1500 studies from more than 150 universities and organizations worldwide.

• AQ Theory draws from award-winning science to explain in simple terms why some people are more resilient that others – in other words, why and how they thrive, even under the most challenging circumstances.

• AQ Measures are exceptionally robust. The statistically valid and reliable AQ Profile® is the measure of how individuals respond to and deal with adversity.

• AQ Methods are proven—they produce measurable, permanent gains in resilience.

Research on AQ shows it to be a global predictor of individual, team, and organizational success. A high-AQ workforce translates to increased capacity, productivity, and innovation, as well as lower attrition and higher morale. For students, it has been directly correlated with academic performance, engagement, retention, and resilience in the face of challenges. All who strengthen their AQ can expect additional gains in health, such as increased energy, reduction in sick days, quicker recovery from surgery, and improved cardiovascular and digestive health.

Selected as the Global Best Practice Faced with the task of preparing leaders for an uncertain and changing future, Harvard Business School determined that out of all the skills the could provide to their students, the most fundamental trait that would underly their future success was resilience in the face of the inevitiable challenges and adversities found across all professions. In 2006, after a thorough review of the field, Harvard Business School contacted Dr. Paul G. Stoltz, developer of the Adversity Quotient, requesting to integrate his Adversity Quotient theory, measure, and methods into their select executive education and MBA courses. They have continued to expand their application of AQ ever since. To bring these same benefits to community colleges, PEAK Learning and Integrated work have developed a customized AQ Resilience Advantage Video Coaching program for students and faculty.

A Capacity Building Partnership Integrated Work and PEAK Learning have partnered to bring the world’s leading resilience-building theory and method to social sector organizations. • PEAK Learning Inc.® is a global research and consulting firm and the world’s leader in

assessing and strengthening human resilience. As Founder and CEO of Peak Learning, Dr. Paul G. Stoltz developed the globally acclaimed Adversity Quotient theory, measure, and methods and is author of international bestsellers such as The Adversity Advantage: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities, The Adversity Advantage, and Put Your Mindset to Work: The One Asset You Really Need to Win and Keep the Job You Love.

• Integrated Work supports mission-driven leaders and organizations to fulfill their objectives through world-class professional development. We bring AQ development programs to government and non-profit organizations.

Building Resilience with AQ

For More Information Contact: Jessica G. Hartung, CEO Integrated Work 6672 Gunpark Drive, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 516-9001 Jessica@IntegratedWork.com www.IntegratedWork.com

Jessica G. Hartung, MSM, CPBA

The CORE of AQ AQ has four dimensions that describe one’s pattern of response to adversity. Each dimension is measured, thouroughly explained, and strengthened through Adversity Quotient programs.

Dimension What it is... What it determines...

Control The extent to which someone perceives they can influence whatever happens next

Resilience, health, and tenacity

Ownership The likelihood that someone will actually do anything to improve the situation, regardless of their formal responsibilities

Accountability, responsibility, action, and engagement

Reach The extent to which someone perceives an adversity will reach into and affect other aspects of the situation or their life

Burden, stress, energy, and effort; it tends to have a cumulative effect

Endurance The length of time the individual perceives the situation/adversity will last, or endure

Hope, optimism, and willingness to persevere

Strengthen Resilience Right Away Don’t wait! Below are three ways you can begin strengthening the resilience of yourself and your students immediately. 1. Hone Your CORE Awareness. Begin strengthening your CORE by noticing these four

dimensions in the media, books and your interactions with others. Listen to the evening news, movies, sitcoms, articles—wherever people interact with situations and each other. Notice the different characters, their CORE explanations or responses, and the effect on themselves and the people around them. You will quickly become an expert at discerning high vs. low AQs.

2. Distinguish between the issue and the response. No matter what issues arise or how dire they may seem, it is our response that determines what happens next. When a student or colleague feels locked into one option or they are choosing from less than optimal responses, help them expand their options by asking high-quality questions to prompt their thinking.

3. Draw on past strengths. Help others apply what they already know about working through adversity in other contexts. Ask “When you have faced a similar challenge in other areas of your life, what did you do to get to the other side of it?” Explore ways they can apply those high AQ strengths to their academic situation.