Resilience, grit, toughness. Whatever you want to call it, being able to cope and thrive in the face of stress is a benefit in any professional environment.
Allow us to clarify: This doesn't mean we should seek or glorify stress in order to appear as though we're thriving by existing in it. No. Resilience isn't about 'being busy' as a constant state, it's about bouncing back, establishing healthy coping strategies, and finding inspiration in set-backs when the inevitable stresses of work and life do happen to come our way.
Better yet, resilience can be learned. While some of us are born with traits that offer natural resilience, it is still possible for those that aren't naturally 'gritty' to strengthen a skillset that reduces the impact of stress. We can work to create a personal toolkit of 'tough' traits and strategies that make hard times easier to manage and overcome – and this toolkit is unique to everyone. There's no one-size-fits-all description when it comes to resilience. Tears, optimism, temporary seclusion, stoicism, ranting anger – whatever it is that helps you dig deep, get through, and move forward in the face of adversity should be placed in your resilience toolkit without shame.
Why does resilience matter in the workplace?
A lot of the time, whether we like it or not, our workplace is a hot spot for stress. From daily requests and deadlines to bigger things like career progression, staffing changes, and beyond, the modern office is riddled with potential stresses and it's a near-guarantee that at some point, each and every one of us will be knocked down by failure. Being able to rise up, cope with the stress, and come back stronger is a necessary skill set for anyone hoping to find their own personal version of success.
And research supports this notion. In fact, the embedded article from Positive Psychology discusses a 12-year study where researchers found that employees who exhibited resilient traits didn't just survive events like job loss, divorce, and health issues, they found ways to thrive in the face of these challenges – rising to the top of their fields or moving on to start businesses of their own.
What does resilience look like in a professional setting?
Studies have shown that our professional social circles can play a large role when it comes to resilience. Employees with strong relationships help those around them succeed and take a very team-focused approach to their work and challenges that arise. This has a number of positive effects that feed into resilience-building traits. These employees have a support system when they need it, they feel validated in their thoughts and feelings, and they're less likely to take the working environment too seriously, making it easier to manage stresses that do come about.
Resilient employees are also incredibly mindful. They're able to navigate their thoughts, recognise patterns, implement coping strategies, and take care of themselves so hurdles become something to overcome rather than something that halts their progress. Becoming more mindful can start with something as small as self-reflection or drawing boundaries when it comes to work-life balance. These tiny changes can help us be less vulnerable to stress and more aware of our triggers – making challenging environments and circumstances easier to push through and rise above.
Where to start
While resilience may seem like a simple concept at a glance, growing our 'grit' can be a very personal and complicated experience. It's hard to know where to start looking for the answers and strategies that work for us. Luckily, The Q Mindset will continue to build on its Tool Kit to support developing Resilience.
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