We all know work can get stressful at times.
Too much work on your plate and not enough time.
Managing relationships with co-workers, customers and suppliers.
Not to mention the ‘always-on’ environment with after-hours emails and messages on your phone.
A recent study found that workplace stress affects a significant portion of the workforce, leading to mental health issues, decreased productivity, and higher turnover rates.
There will always be an element of stress in a workplace.
And while we can try and remove as many stress factors as possible, it’s impossible to remove them all.
That’s why resilience – our ability to bounce back – is an essential part of dealing with and managing stress.
When a workforce can better manage this inevitable stress, they are happier, healthier, and more productive.
What’s good for their wellbeing is good for your business.
Why we need resilience at work
Resilience isn’t about being unaffected by stress.
It’s about how well we can face challenges, recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going.
It’s how we can cope and manage our mental health when we face adversity, trauma, or crises.
Resilience is vital to our wellbeing.
Building resilience in your workplace is a fundamental strategy to develop your team’s ability to handle stress and conflicts, successfully navigate challenges, adapt to change, and maintain high performance, as well as manage work-life balance.
Managing stress through building resilience
When you make addressing stress and mental health a priority in your workplace, you’re taking essential steps to improve workplace culture, resilience, and, in turn, productivity and growth.
That’s because when you work in a more resilient team, not only can you manage stress better, but you also enjoy greater job satisfaction, work happiness, organisational commitment and work engagement.
People’s self-esteem improves, and they have a sense of control and purpose in life, as well as improved workplace and personal relationships.
On top of all this, an organisation reaps the rewards of increased productivity.
How to build resilience in your workplace
Building resilience will help you and your team develop invaluable skills in managing the stress we all feel at work at some time.
It’s about creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to overcome challenges.
Here are some tips to build resilience in your organisation.
1. Be open
Create an environment where your team feels safe to express their concerns and challenges and have an open-door policy to foster trust and transparency.
2. Offer support
Offer relevant stress management and resilience-building programmes, workshops and resources, and provide access to professional support to help them manage their stress.
3. Get the work-life balance right
Make sure your people take regular breaks, use their leave, and have flexible work options to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
4. Create a positive work culture
Recognise good work, celebrate achievements, encourage teamwork, and organise social events to help create a positive and supportive culture and improve morale and resilience.
5. Build skills
Training programmes that teach mindfulness, problem-solving, and emotional regulation techniques will help people build their skills and confidence.
6. Share your experience
Be honest and open about your own challenges and share how you cope with stress and setbacks.
This can help create a positive and supportive team culture.
7. Set achievable goals
Setting clear and achievable goals avoids stress and burnout and helps people feel a sense of accomplishment and control.
8. Support each other
Peer support networks, where people can share their experiences and their coping methods, can provide a sense of community and mutual encouragement.
9. Promote physical and mental wellbeing
Encourage your team to exercise regularly, eat well, and practice mindfulness.
Even provide on-site fitness facilities or mindfulness sessions.
10. Watch the work
Monitor people and their individual workloads to make sure they’re manageable and balanced.
When we feel overburdened, we can quickly get overwhelmed and stressed.
People who are less stressed feel happier, are generally healthier, and more productive.
But the workplace will never be free of stressful times.
When you foster and cultivate resilience in your workplace, you’ll create a culture and environment where everyone has a better opportunity to thrive.
Sources
- Stress in the workplace – Australian Psychological Society
- What is the relationship between resilience and stress in the workplace? – British Red Cross Society
- Resilience: a strong workforce needs it – American Psychiatric Association Foundation