^What does it mean to be resilient in the workplace? Why is it important to be resilient at work? How can you boost employee resilience? The following article will provide you with all the information you need.

The last three years have seen organisations and employees become more flexible and adaptive. However, the epidemic has caused many people to feel more stressed and worried because of the changing workplace dynamics and widespread remote work.

The way individuals respond to change has a significant impact on their personal and professional lives. Therefore, organisations should prioritise employee wellness initiatives that assist their employees in developing a resilient mindset.

Resilience in the Workplace: What Does It Mean?

As organisations evolve, everyone must adapt to changes and difficulties. Resilience should therefore be one of the top strategic objectives. People capable of adjusting to changes and staying productive will be better equipped to meet the organisation's needs.

Regardless of employee loyalty, health issues, current events, or personal obstacles will always affect them. In addition, employee wellbeing is affected by changes at work, such as new technologies and interpersonal conflicts. Therefore, employers must show compassion and support to assist their employees in coping with stress and overwhelm.

Here are few tips to build resilience in the workplace.

Identify Employee Workloads

Employees being given too many tasks can lead to stress and worry. Therefore, managers and supervisors should keep an eye on their employees' workload. 

Employees can prioritise their activities based on deadlines and expectations using project management tools that provide an overview of what each team member is working on. Additionally, learning time management skills will help people avoid being overwhelmed and respond effectively to new challenges.

Develop a Culture of Compassion

An organisation can cultivate a culture of compassion for its employees and others, and the results will always be worth it. Developing strong work connections and increasing collaboration between coworkers fosters employee engagement and performance while decreasing turnover.

The company will benefit from building workplace resilience in today's rapidly changing business climate. Assess your organisation's resilience and health at work. 

Promote Mindfulness Exercises

Individual resilience is a personal trait. Mindfulness is one mental training technique that can be quite beneficial as it helps a person improve their ability to see their surroundings because how they think significantly impacts how they perceive their surroundings.

Mindfulness training enhances cognitive flexibility, which helps people perform better at work. Empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence can all be enhanced by mindfulness activities. These characteristics lower employee stress, stimulate employee creativity and engagement and foster resiliency, all of which can help organisations perform better.

Set a Good Example.

Strong leaders who can exhibit resilience to their employees may benefit from a workplace that supports resilience. An employee who regularly sees this attribute may benefit from this good example. Consequently, individuals may feel more driven to improve their workplace resilience. 

You may display great leadership abilities and resilience while leading or working with others by creating workplace objectives, tackling problems confidently, and managing stress constructively.

Consider Resilience Training.

Offering resilience training in the workplace through an employee wellness program can educate you and your team on how to manage stress healthily, tackle obstacles professionally, and return to work after a difficult period. 

Look for expert speakers who can inspire and educate your team about resilience, or have your colleagues and team members prepare presentations on how they employ this talent at work. Make sure to highlight the resilience, its importance at work, and how team members may develop it throughout the training.

Identify Your Employees’ Needs.

When managers recognise their team members' needs and challenges, they can assist them in developing resilience. It is important to learn about these experiences because resilience aims to help people overcome adversity. 

Managers can help their employees overcome barriers, distractions, or difficulties when they're aware of them. Ask your workers about their problems in questionnaires, and you'll better understand their needs. By gathering the essential facts, you can begin developing strategies for building resilience within the team and maintaining a healthy work environment.

Identify and Accept Flaws.

It is possible for managers to help their teams recognise and accept mistakes and challenges in the workplace by admitting shortcomings. As a result of this strategy, workers may be able to develop resilience during times of difficulty. 

Employees can be motivated by their dissatisfaction when managers encourage them to learn from their mistakes. It allows people to learn from their failures and grow so they can succeed in the future. Self-resilience can also be developed in the workplace through employee wellness initiative.

Incentivise Volunteers

People are able to stretch themselves and reach beyond their comfort zones by volunteering at work. In order to build resilience, individuals might take on new initiatives or jobs that are challenging. 

Managers and team leaders may be more willing to encourage employees to take advantage of changes when they offer incentives. It may be appropriate for managers to give volunteers an extra day of paid time off so they can take charge of a project and create a schedule.

^Indeed, the world's largest job search website recently released its 2022 Work Wellbeing Insights Report, which surveyed over 1,000 employees to understand their views on work and well-being. Here are the top five findings from the report:

Putting Well-Being Ahead of Career

A majority of workers value their well-being over their careers. The report found that 54% of workers prioritise their well-being over their career advancement, with only 46% putting their careers over their well-being. This indicates a shift in the traditional mindset of placing work over personal health and happiness.

Work-life balance is the top concern for workers. When asked about their top concerns related to work, 61% of workers cited work-life balance as their top concern, followed by job security (50%) and stress levels (49%). This highlights the importance of companies providing flexible work options and support for their employees' mental and physical health.

Burnout Is More Widespread Than Acknowledged.

Burnout is a widespread problem. The report found that 60% of workers have experienced burnout, with over half (51%) saying they have felt burnt out at their current job. Burnout can have serious consequences for both individual employees and companies, so it's important for employers to provide support and resources to prevent and manage burnout.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on work and well-being. Over half (54%) of workers reported that the pandemic has negatively impacted their work and well-being, with common concerns including increased stress and anxiety levels and difficulty balancing work and personal responsibilities.

Greater Demand for Mental Health Services

Access to mental health resources is crucial. The report found that 88% of workers believe that their employer should provide mental health resources and support. This indicates a strong desire among workers for their companies to prioritise their mental health and provide resources to help them manage stress and other mental health concerns.

Office workers are faring better than other professions.

Office workers reported lower rates of toxic work environments compared to manual laborers and service workers (people who interact with customers or clients, including food and retail workers, teachers, and healthcare workers). During the pandemic, office workers also reported more improvements to their work schedules in terms of flexibility and hours, while manual laborers and service workers reported more deterioration.

Positive work environments contribute to well-being.

This finding highlights the importance of creating a positive work culture and investing in employee development and growth. Employers can contribute to the well-being of their employees by creating a supportive and positive work environment that fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and meaning. This may include providing opportunities for professional development and growth, promoting open communication and collaboration, and recognizing and valuing the contributions of employees.

In addition to creating a positive work culture, employers can also support the well-being of their employees by addressing any factors that may be contributing to stress or negative feelings. This may include addressing workload, providing resources for mental health support, and promoting work-life balance. By prioritizing their employees' well-being, employers can improve their workforce's overall health and happiness and increase productivity and overall business success.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, the findings from Indeed's 2022 Work Wellbeing Insights Report highlight the importance of paying attention to well-being in the workplace. From prioritising work-life balance to providing mental health resources, there are many steps that employers can take to support their employees' well-being and create a healthier and more positive work environment.

Wellness Tribe Team has put together a workplace wellness guide for 2023; you can check it out here etc.