Our Blog

Thought-provoking articles on resilience, change, and well-being from Linda Hoopes and selected guest authors.

Evaluating Energy Demands for an Initiative: A 10-Question Diagnostic for Change Leaders

Experienced leaders know that people have a finite supply of energy and that in the face of too many energy demands people begin to lose productive capability and may display unproductive behaviors related to stress and overload. They also know that energy levels rise when people feel engaged and involved and fall when people feel controlled and victimized. As you prepare to introduce a new initiative to a group of people that will require them to make changes in their mindsets and/or behaviors, it can be helpful to estimate energy demands and match them against the group’s available energy.

Seven Resilience Muscles

What is resilience? Based on a great deal of research and observation of people going through change, we have identified a set of characteristics that help people use their adaptation energy more effectively. Think of these characteristics as “change muscles.” We believe that everyone has the ability to apply and develop each one. Just as certain physical muscles are stronger in some people than others, people differ in the strength of their resilience muscles. And, just as regular exercise will strengthen physical muscles, so resilience muscles can be strengthened through practice. When a change muscle is weak, it can certainly still be used, but the person must apply more effort to get the same result as a person who has developed greater strength in that area.

What If I’m Not Feeling Resilient?


Helping Others After a Disaster

Several years from now, we will look back at people who lived through the hurricane season of 2017 (Harvey, Irma, Maria, etc.) and see that some of them are thriving while others have never recovered from the catastrophe. This was true for Hurricane Katrina in New...


