Statistics suggest that employees are twice as motivated and productive when they are resilient, concluding that good resilience is an extremely important skill set. But what does it mean? Here, we look at what resilience is, how it aligns with wellbeing, and some of the ways it can be effectively implemented in the workplace.

What is resilience 

When we think of resilience, we often associate it with stress when it is so much broader than that. Resilience is not only the ability to withstand and recover from stress but also the capacity to adapt and thrive despite challenges. And it aligns with wellbeing by contributing to a person's mental, emotional and physical health. If resilience is our ability to handle challenges and keep going, wellbeing is the bigger picture of feeling healthy and happy. So, you can think of resilience as a skill that helps us to achieve and maintain our wellbeing. Being resilient doesn't mean that you don't experience stress or difficult emotions. It means you can cope and manage your mental health effectively when facing adversity, change, trauma, or crisis. 

The five core elements of resilience  

When we think of resilience, we consider it in the context of five core elements: physical, emotional, psychological, social, and purposeful. When these elements are balanced, they help to support and build resilience.  

Here are these elements in more detail; 

Physical -  

Physical resilience involves building healthy habits like regular exercise and balanced nutrition. These practices improve sleep quality, ensuring better rest and recovery. A robust and healthy body encourages a strong mind, mental clarity, focus, and emotional stability. This ultimately contributes to better overall wellbeing and a more resilient, fulfilling life. If you'd like to find out more about healthy habits, you can read our insight piece that offers tips for helping habits stick.

Emotional -                                                                                                                               

Emotional resilience is about understanding and managing your own and other people’s feelings, especially during tough times. It involves being aware of emotions and there causes, regulating them effectively, and showing empathy and compassion for yourself and others. Expressing and managing emotions healthily is crucial, as it builds strong relationships, inner strength, and emotional health. 

Psychological - 

Psychological resilience is key to making sound decisions and maintaining an optimistic outlook. It enhances self-efficacy, boosting confidence in your ability to handle challenges. This resilience promotes adaptability and flexibility, enabling you to embrace change and become a better problem solver. Ultimately, it supports a proactive and positive approach to life’s uncertainties. 

Social -                                                                                 

Social resilience is vital for creating positive relationships and strengthening connections. It allows you to share problems and offer support as well as receive it. This helps to build a robust social support network, enhancing your ability to cope with challenges. This resilience also encourages effective teamwork, creating a sense of community and a collective strength when facing adversity. 

Purposeful -                                            

Purposeful resilience helps align your core values with your goals, behaviours, and decision-making, providing a solid sense of purpose. It enables you to remain authentic and view challenges as opportunities for personal growth, allowing you to accept uncertainty better. This resilience fosters a deeper understanding of yourself and the world, improving your wellbeing. 

Incorporating resilience training and implementation in the workplace                           

Resilience training can be transformative when it comes to enhancing employee wellbeing as well as the performance of the business. A good starting point is recognising resilience as a core value by embedding it into your company strategy and policies. When company leaders champion and model resilient behaviours, it sets a powerful example for the whole team. Resilience can also be integrated into daily tasks by encouraging problem-solving and adaptability. This helps employees develop a proactive mindset, making them more effective and engaged in their roles. Developing a comprehensive wellbeing program is also a great way to nurture resilience in your workplace. This could include strategies that address each of the core elements, such as relevant skills training, community projects, and work on team values. Implementing regular resilience training also equips employees with the practical tools to manage their stress better, regulate their emotions, and build effective communication.  

Why invest in resilience training? 

Incorporating resilience training into your company brings many benefits that help both employee wellbeing and overall business performance. Such as helping employees manage stress, improve mental health, and maintain a positive outlook. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and happiness. Resilient employees are more productive and better equipped to handle challenges and stay focused, increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. This training also reduces burnout, absenteeism, and turnover, improving retention rates and associated costs. Resiliency training encourages creativity and effective problem-solving by fostering a proactive and adaptable mindset. Ultimately, these advantages lead to lower healthcare costs, higher employee engagement, and a more robust financial performance for the company.  

It's important to remember, though, that whilst improving your employee's resilience is hugely beneficial, it should not be seen as an opportunity to put more and more pressure on them. Not only that, but businesses have a responsibility to manage factors that may add strain, such as organisational change, company culture, and leadership styles. Poorly managed changes can cause uncertainty and anxiety. At the same time, a negative culture and ineffective leadership can lead to stress and disengagement. Open communication can help avoid these issues, though, along with involving employees in decision-making and creating a supportive environment. Effective leadership that prioritises employee wellness and a positive, inclusive culture can mitigate additional pressures, ensuring resilience training supports rather than burdens the workforce. 

If you'd like to discuss the resilience training we offer here at Yellow Tree Wellbeing, such as ‘building resilient teams’ and ‘stress management training’ please contact us. We can work with you to create a program that specifically addresses your team's pain points. You can also find more details about our solutions here.