By Morgan Burn, principal consultant, learning & development consultancy, OnTrack International
When one in five employees experiences burnout, building resilience is critical to helping people perform at their best and for businesses to thrive. However, employers and employees often have different views on what resilience means. Managers and leaders may see resilience as a tool to help employees become more robust and take on more work. Instead, its’ true definition centres around an individual’s ability to overcome challenges. The question of ‘increasing resilience’ becomes simplified, when we are able to break down the core skills involved: vision, composure, tenacity, reasoning, collaboration, and health. Only then, can we put actions in place to restore and develop these components.
What is resilience?
Resilience should be understood as a personal capability, rather than a business objective, though it ultimately benefits both employee and employer. When employees define resilience, they often describe it as “never giving up” or the ability to bounce back. However, true resilience is not simply about remaining positive amid challenging circumstances. Instead, it involves acknowledging the challenge, understanding it, and holding the belief that you can advance past it. Resilience means seeing beyond immediate hurdles, maintaining a clear vision, and having the confidence to overcome obstacles. At OnTrack International, we describe resilience as advancing despite adversity.
The six domains of resilience
Resilience can be broken down into six core areas, as referred to by the NHS. These include vision, composure, reasoning, health, tenacity and collaboration. Each can be invested in and nurtured to support overall resilience.
For example, vision is essential to resilient individuals. They are goal-oriented and will work towards that vision no matter the circumstances. Composure involves regulating emotions, staying calm, and being in control. It’s about making rational decisions rather than being driven by emotional responses. Tenacity, encompassing persistence and realistic optimism, involves maintaining a positive outlook despite setbacks. Reasoning relates to the fact that resilient people are resourceful, can anticipate issues, and plan accordingly. Collaboration plays a significant role in resilience by building strong support networks and managing perceptions within social contexts. Health, including proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise, is fundamental to resilience.
Varying factors
Resilience is fundamentally about mindset. However, the level of resilience needed can vary depending on the situation and individual experiences. For example, the same challenge, such as a business restructuring or team conflict, can impact people differently based on their previous experiences and emotional triggers.
In high-stress situations, some people focus on immediate tasks, becoming reactive rather than proactive. It’s crucial to find moments to pause and reflect on the bigger picture, understanding how daily tasks connect to broader goals. Responding over reacting is key when aiming to increase your overall resilience.
Avoiding traps
Resilience also involves overcoming thinking traps that can hinder progress. Common thinking traps include all-or-nothing thinking, where situations are seen in black-and-white terms. Emotional reasoning suggests emotions reflect reality, which is not the case. Fortune-telling involves predicting undesirable outcomes, while labelling attributes negative labels to oneself or others. Overgeneralisation makes people believe a single event will repeat indefinitely, and personalisation makes individuals take undue responsibility for events.
To combat thinking traps, one must acknowledge that difficulties are part of life. Identifying specific thinking traps is crucial, as is playing devil’s advocate with oneself to question the validity of thoughts. Positive self-talk, speaking with kindness and encouragement, helps in managing these traps. Interrupting negative thoughts consciously and practising self-care are essential steps. Ensuring rest and health is vital to manage stress effectively.
Nurturing resilience
Resilience is a skill that can be taught and developed. The concept of the “stretch zone” illustrates how pressure affects performance. While some pressure can enhance performance, prolonged exposure to high stress can lead to burnout. Organisations should support employees in managing stress and building resilience.
By understanding and fostering resilience, businesses can help their employees advance despite adversity, benefiting individuals and the organisation. Building a resilient workforce is not just about surviving challenges but thriving amidst them.
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