A certain amount of stress at work gives us the push we need to accomplish tasks and achieve our goals. But when work stress goes unchecked, burnout can result. Fortunately, there is a skill that can help us manage stressful events and respond better the next time they happen: resilience. In this week’s blog we explore what resilience is and how offering resilience training in the workplace benefits both employees and the organization.
What is resilience?
Resilience is our ability to deal with adversity and recover quickly after experiencing a challenging time. Put simply, it’s the skills needed to pivot from one difficult situation to another, and then do it again. It’s key to dealing with stress and change, and it’s particularly important in today’s rapidly changing workplace. With nearly 30% of employees citing “work-related stress and burnout” as one of the top three factors negatively affecting their mental health last year, it’s also a skill employees desperately need.1
What is resilience training in the workplace?
Resilience training in the workplace refers to the specific programs and initiatives that can help employees build skills to manage emotions, remain calm, cope with stress, take on new challenges, reframe setbacks, and improve thought processes.
Key components of resilience training might include:
- Stress management tactics
- Emotional regulation skills
- Mindfulness and meditation practices
- Problem-solving frameworks
- Ways to tap into social support networks
- Strategies to balance work and life
- Well-being strategies to counteract stress, like exercise, nutrition and sleep quality
Resilience training can take the form of workshops or online courses, or be part of your well-being program.
How resilience training benefits the organization.
There is evidence to suggest that employees in organizations who implement resilience training manage stress better and develop “protective factors against stress.”2 In difficult work environments, studies show workers with higher levels of resilience have lower absenteeism and higher productivity than workers with low resilience.3 Frontline workers who complete resilience training report improved mental well-being and decreased secondary traumatic stress and somatic symptoms.4
According to the McKinsey Health Institute, individuals who report high levels of resilience also demonstrate better holistic health and higher engagement than peers.5 And, the study finds, those who score high on both resilience and adaptability “are almost four times more likely than peers to report an increase in innovative behaviors.”6
Resilience training for employees.
Every employee—no matter their role or level—can benefit from resilience training in the workplace that teaches them how to:
- Identify personal resilience strengths and growth areas.
- Recognize and manage their emotional responses during difficult situations.
- Manage negative thought patterns.
- Develop a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks.7
- Build supportive workplace relationships.
- Set healthy boundaries to help balance work and life.
- Adopt healthy habits (exercise, nutrition, and sleep) to increase resilience.
- Engage in mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, to stay centered and focused.
Resilience training for managers.
Manager resilience training includes much of the same skill-building as employee training, but emphasizes additional skills that are necessary for a people manager role. Resilience training for managers might include instruction for how to:
- Manage their own response to challenges from senior leadership.
- Make decisions under pressure and in ambiguous situations.
- Lead teams through organizational change and build psychological safety during difficult transitions.
- Support team members’ individual resilience needs.
- Recognize and address stress and burnout on their team.
- Delegate effectively to avoid burnout.
- Set boundaries and model work/life balance for their team.
- Cultivate a peer support network to help navigate challenges.
On some level, work will always be stressful. And in today’s fast-paced, turbulent corporate environment, change is a given. Equipping employees and managers with the tools and techniques to manage change, weather setbacks, and cope with stress will be key to maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.
As leadership coach Laura Burkey states:
“Resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about embracing them, learning from them, and emerging stronger on the other side. True growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones and into our potential.”
Want to learn how WebMD Health Services can help your employees become more resilient? Request a demo to speak with our team.