Everything you need to know about resilience in the workplace

Being resilient, or possessing resilient traits, is more than a case of being stubborn. Anyone can dig their heels in and refuse to budge. But workplace resilience is about durability and having the tools, tenacity and temerity to weather any storm. It’s also about cultivating a deeply seated emotional resilience, to bolster wellbeing in the workplace and minimize anxiety at work.

What is workplace resilience?

In short, workplace resilience is how effectively you handle whatever is thrown at you. If a mammoth task slides onto your desk, or a project falls through, your resilience is defined by how you react to these changes.

Do you crumble under the pressure? Or do you display true adaptability in the workplace by bouncing back, analyzing the problem at hand, and creating a set of clear objectives to steady the ship? And this can only be achieved by processing your thoughts and emotions, then regulating them in a manner that allows you to assess the big picture and take necessary action.

That being said, it is very easy to mistake boisterous over-confidence with resilience. It is also dangerous to assume that by feeling your emotions and exploring your thoughts when hitting both the peaks and troughs, you somehow aren’t a resilient individual. The key difference is how proactive you are in your daily working life.

Because fostering positive resilience makes you less vulnerable to catastrophizing and feeling overwhelmed by mounting pressure.

And where others see doom, despair and failure you see the opportunity to problem solve and meet a challenge head-on. Meaning you go into every situation with the knowledge that, no matter what happens, it will serve as a learning experience.

Five examples of resilience in the workplace

1 – Come what may

As stated, workplace resilience isn’t purely reactionary. A lot of it comes down to preparedness and being decisive. A good example of this is the ability to make calculated decisions. But with every perceived possibility taken into account, there is always the unknown.

This, however, should note deter you. Resilient workers shouldn’t be afraid to take risks and initiate bold strategies, ideas and proposals. This is because they have the fortitude and self-assurance that regardless of what develops or transpires, they will be able to handle it in an effective manner.

2 – Stick to it

We all get distracted. And sometimes, distractions can come as a welcome break from any continued action; whether that’s a long-term project or a repetitive task. But resilience allows you to still maintain focus.

This means you can stop, gather yourself, reassess as much as needed but never truly fall behind. Because you have the ability to keep your eye on the prize. You know your limits and are able to stick to deadlines. But fully understanding your responsibilities, means you are also committed to achieving them. Especially when the allure of other enticing prospects arises.

3 – Having the right attitude

Stress in any workplace is frankly unavoidable at times. No matter how much preparation we take or changes we implement, the fact that we are human, means stress catches up with us sooner or later. But while stress can build from uncontrollable elements, there are things we have direct power over: namely how we choose to experience them.

For all our brain’s complexity, it can get confused at times. Meaning we interpret something that should be positive, as a negative. The trick is to practice resilience by turning fear into excitement. Not abandoning reason and logic, but questioning why we’re stressed or afraid. Getting promoted to a new role? Sure, that will come with a lot of new requirements and KPIs. But the fact you’re progressing in the direction you want to, and this is a role you have fought for, is a huge positive. So why rob yourself of that?

4 – Respect at all times

Being resilient extends to more than simply project-based goals, it’s also how you interact with your colleagues. And no one should have to tolerate toxic behavior. This can manifest as something as overt as bullying or aggressiveness, or it can be as insidious as hurtful, unhelpful language or infectious negativity. All of which can create a miserable, unproductive culture and a thoroughly unpleasant working environment.

Anyone would struggle in these circumstances but those without workplace resilience will find it especially hard to stand up to these issues and put forth calm, rational measures to alleviate them.

5 – Support one another

Throughout every role, up and down a business’ hierarchy, you will find levels of support. To maintain and nurture workplace resilience, you don’t have to do everything on your own. By utilizing your team and drawing on their strengths, obstacles and dark clouds are quickly demystified. Not only that, by being a pillar of workplace resilience, you stand as a source of inspiration to your colleagues and are able to offer help and assistance where needed.

What role does workplace resilience have to play for your wellbeing?

Outside of improving simple day-to-day working attitudes, workplace resilience also has a number of positive effects when it comes to employee wellbeing.

Resilience offers confidence and stability, which are cornerstones to emotional and physical health and wellbeing.

We all know wellbeing in the workplace can be a silent growing issue, that leads to anxiety at work, absences and eventual high staff turnover. This is because employees associate challenges with negativity and feel they are not receiving the appropriate levels of backing and aid they need to survive, let alone thrive. But with the necessary workplace resilience training and resources, worker wellbeing can be dramatically improved.

Ways you can boost your workplace resilience

Knowing the steps to take to boost workplace resilience can only really happen when you have a handle on the factors causing grief in the first place. This means that actively and honestly looking for how to reduce worker fatigue, stress and burnout, will directly lead to a more healthy, productive workforce.

And the first bold step you can take is encouraging a culture of compassion. This may feel like an oversimplification but it’s vital to ensure lasting results. By having self-compassion and being able to show that compassion to others, you create an environment that affords employees the confidence to speak up and present their best work.

Compartmentalization is also crucial. We all have different ways of working, little nuances and eccentricities that help us get things done. But a common method that applies to almost every successful work ethic is the ability to take any overwhelming task and break it down into bitesize chunks. Divide up your day to ensure it’s as balanced as possible and complete tasks based on priority.

Finally we have mindfulness. This is mental training to promote problem solving, while enhancing cognitive flexibility. This is because practicing positive mindfulness can have a practical and effective impact, by decreasing stress levels and improving worker engagement.

Long gone are the days of words like compassion, compartmentalization and mindfulness being seen as drippy, detrimental, new-age nonsense. Pioneering organizations and successful businesses now understand that these are the cornerstones for maintaining a productive and healthy working environment. And all of the above can be realized with appropriate training. Which can take the form of courses, on-site training, workshops, online learning and in-depth webinars.

What are the benefits of workplace resilience?

When it comes to workplace resilience benefits, the list is impressive. Workers are able to handle challenges more constructively and with improved agility. This is because they can assess the problem, find common ground, and mobilize others to create an impressive solution. It also generates better communication and organization skills, allowing employees to share ideas and explore avenues of possibility.

Widespread workplace resilience also leads to adaptability when facing choppy waters, or the opportunity to upskill and develop. It reduces stress, improves wellbeing, and propagates support, while creating a competitive business environment. Because when your workforce is resilient, there’s arguably nothing that cannot be achieved, overcome or accomplished.

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