Change is inevitable. It’s a given. Whether it’s a sudden shift in your team dynamic, an unexpected challenge, or a transition in life that throws you off balance, change tends to have a way of making things feel… well, unpredictable. And yet, it’s not the change itself that defines us, but how we respond to it. Resilience is the key, but not in the way we often think about it. Resilience isn’t about taking giant leaps forward in the face of adversity—it’s about the small steps, the little daily actions, that help us keep moving forward when everything else feels uncertain.
I’ve seen it time and time again. Athletes, coaches, or just regular people trying to navigate change, hoping for some grand breakthrough that will fix everything. Here’s the thing: it doesn’t work that way. If you’re expecting a lightbulb moment that instantly makes everything better, you’ll be waiting a long time. Real resilience is about progress—slow, steady, sometimes painstakingly small progress—but progress nonetheless.
Resilience is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
One of the toughest things to come to terms with in moments of change is the feeling that progress isn’t happening fast enough. It’s easy to want quick fixes, instant results, and tangible signs that things are improving. But that’s not how resilience works.
I remember a time when I was working with a team going through a major coaching change. Everyone was feeling a little lost, unsure of the direction, and frustrated with the slow pace of progress. The temptation was to push harder, faster—to demand results right away. But the real growth happened when we shifted our focus from results to effort, from performance to progress.
Small steps are still steps, and they matter.
Think of resilience like building a wall. Every small brick you lay may seem insignificant, but after enough time, that wall becomes strong and unshakable. In moments of change, those “bricks” are your daily habits—getting through tough practices, staying positive despite setbacks, or simply showing up and giving your best. Each of these actions may seem small in the moment, but they add up.
The Power of Daily Habits
Building resilience isn’t about some grand gesture. It’s about what you do on the daily—how you respond to the little bumps, the hiccups, and the setbacks that inevitably come with change.
Think about how athletes train. They don’t become champions overnight. They show up every day, doing the same drills, working on the same techniques, and constantly building upon their foundation. It’s this relentless consistency that allows them to push through when things get tough. If they waited for the “perfect” moment to shine, they’d never reach their full potential.
For coaches, this means focusing on the little things too. Maybe it’s adjusting your communication style with an athlete, tweaking a drill to make it more effective, or just being there for your team when they need support. The changes might seem small, but they set the stage for bigger moves down the line.
Celebrating Small Wins
Here’s something most people overlook in the resilience game: celebrating small wins. The problem is, we’re so obsessed with the big, flashy victories that we forget the importance of the smaller victories along the way. And trust me, those small wins are what keep you going.
Think about it: you’re coaching a player who’s been struggling with confidence. They finally get that one perfect pass or score that they’ve been working on for weeks. It might not seem like a huge deal to you, but to them, it’s a major victory. It’s a sign that progress is happening. And that tiny win? It fuels their confidence and builds resilience for the next challenge.
When we overlook these small victories, we risk burning out. We forget why we keep going in the first place. But by celebrating each step, no matter how tiny, we stay motivated and remind ourselves that progress is happening—slowly but surely.
A Personal Story: My Own Resilience Journey
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a situation and thought, “This is too much. I’m done.” A few years ago, I found myself overwhelmed with balancing coaching, teaching, and family life. The pressure was building, and change was happening fast—too fast. The natural instinct was to give up, to walk away from it all. But then I realized something important: it wasn’t about trying to juggle everything at once—it was about tackling one thing at a time.
So, I started by breaking everything down into smaller, more manageable steps. I gave myself permission to fail—small failures, sure, but failures that were part of the process. And slowly, as each day passed, I started making progress. I’d set one goal for the day—just one—and if I hit it, I celebrated it. I let that small win fuel me to keep going the next day.
It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t fast. But it worked. Resilience isn’t built overnight—it’s built one small, meaningful step at a time.
How You Can Build Resilience, One Step at a Time
So, how can you take this approach into your own life or coaching practice? Here are a few tips to help you keep moving forward, even when the going gets tough:
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Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Resilience isn’t about getting to the finish line. It’s about how you show up and take action every day, no matter how small. Celebrate the process. -
Start with One Thing
Trying to tackle everything at once will only overwhelm you. Start with one small change or goal each day. One thing at a time, one step at a time. -
Use Setbacks as Fuel
When things don’t go your way, instead of seeing it as failure, reframe it as an opportunity to learn. Each setback is a chance to build resilience. -
Stay Consistent
Resilience is about consistency. Even on the tough days, keep showing up. Don’t expect instant results. Trust that your efforts will add up over time. -
Acknowledge Small Wins
Don’t wait for the big victory to celebrate. Look for small wins along the way and take a moment to appreciate them. Those moments of progress are what keep you going.
Wrapping It Up: The Road to Resilience
Resilience doesn’t come from pushing yourself until you burn out. It comes from being willing to take small, steady steps every day—even when you don’t see the immediate results. So the next time you face change, remember this: It’s not about how fast you can move forward. It’s about how you keep moving forward, one small step at a time.
And hey, that’s progress. Big moves start with small steps.
