The Last Straw: Testing an Explorer’s Resilience
Part 5 of 5 in our Developing Resilience Challenge: See what leadership blind spots will gradually undermine Explorers’ resilience and drive them to their boiling point
Do you lead an Explorer (ISTP | ISFP | ESTP | ESFP)?
Explorers include all personality types who share the Observant and Prospecting personality traits. They’re spontaneous and can deeply connect with their surroundings. Utilitarian and practical, they shine in situations that require quick reactions and the ability to think on your feet. They’re masters of tools and techniques.
Welcome to the fifth and final day of our Developing Resilience Challenge. Today, you’ll meet Evan the Explorer on a not-so-very-good day at work and examine an interaction with his boss that tests his resilience – a.k.a. his ability to bounce back from setbacks.
(For solutions on building resilience, stay tuned for upcoming articles on each Explorer personality type.)
Real quick, here’s a recap of your five-day Developing Resilience Challenge:
Day 5: Testing Resilience in Explorers (You are here)
Story Time: Evan the Explorer’s Breaking Point
I sat up straighter in my chair at the conference room table, my eyes sparkling with excitement. “I’ve got it!” I exclaimed. “We can use augmented reality to showcase the product features. It’s interactive, engaging, and we can have it ready by next week!”
My boss’s frown deepened. “Evan,” he interrupted, “we need detailed plans, not spur-of-the-moment ideas. Have you considered the risks? The budget? The timeline?” With each question, I felt my excitement drain away. This wasn’t the first time my ideas had been shot down, but something about this encounter felt different. As I returned to my desk, a thought crystallized: maybe it was time to move on.
*Pause story*
Yikes. Evan isn’t having a good day, and it’s not the only time this has happened. Let’s look at things from his perspective for a minute. What made this feel like the last straw, and why is he having such a hard time bouncing back from this challenge?
*Resume story*
“My attempts to start conversations and collaborate are shut down.”
I saw this as the start of a collaborative process, not a final proposal. When I brought up my initial thoughts, I was hoping to explore and develop the idea together with my boss. Instead, they criticized my lack of planning and dismissed the concept outright. It felt like they were rejecting not just the idea, but also my attempt to engage in a creative discussion.
This is a pattern that’s been building up over time. Every time my boss shuts down my spontaneous suggestions, it reinforces the feeling that my natural problem-solving style isn’t valued here. I can’t simply shrug off this criticism and move on because it strikes at the core of who I am and how I work best.
I believe this augmented reality concept has potential, but my boss insists on a detailed roadmap upfront. When I tried to discuss my ideas, they were quickly dismissed as “half-baked.” I wish we could brainstorm together and explore the concept's possibilities before diving into meticulous planning. I’m starting to have a hard time seeing myself excel in this role.
“My boss is stifling my creativity.”
I thrive on the excitement of new possibilities and the challenge of turning ideas into tangible results. I had envisioned not just presenting the augmented reality concept, but quickly putting together a prototype to demonstrate its feasibility. The energy and enthusiasm I feel when brainstorming and problem-solving are what drive me forward. But now, with each dismissal, I feel that energy being drained away.
This repeated stifling of my creativity is creating a negative feedback loop. With each rejected idea, I become more hesitant to share my thoughts. I start second-guessing myself, wondering if my ideas are actually valuable or if I’m just not cut out for this role. This self-doubt makes it increasingly difficult to generate new ideas or approach problems with the same enthusiasm I once had. I’m finding it harder and harder to muster the resilience needed to keep putting myself out there. The thought of having another idea shot down before it’s even fully formed is becoming too daunting. I’m starting to withdraw from actively contributing to the team.
“My boss doesn’t value my input.”
The criticism from my boss hit me harder than I realized. I like to appear carefree and adaptable on the surface, but I can be deeply affected by negative feedback, especially when it targets my core strengths. In this case, my enthusiasm and quick thinking – traits I value highly – were essentially dismissed as liabilities.
I’m getting a growing sense that my contributions aren’t appreciated or understood. Each time my boss responds negatively or dismissively to my ideas, it chips away at my confidence and sense of belonging in this team. I’m starting to question whether my skills and approach are actually assets in this environment, or if I’m fundamentally misaligned with what’s valued here.
I’m finding it difficult to bounce back because my ability to generate ideas quickly and enthusiastically is a key part of how I see myself and how I’ve always approached my work. When my boss consistently undervalues this, it’s like they’re rejecting not just my ideas, but my entire professional identity. The prospect of finding a new work environment where my input is valued and my strengths are appreciated is becoming increasingly appealing.
*End story*
Story Debrief
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