In today’s fast-changing world of business, many companies are focusing on a range of soft skills in their workforce to complement employees technical expertise. Resilience is quickly becoming one of the most essential soft skills to cultivate for employees across all industries. But before we delve into why it’s important for companies to establish resilience in the workplace, let’s explain what employee resilience means.
Understanding Employee Resilience
Resilience, by definition, is the ability to overcome obstacles and adapt to change. In a world where setbacks and disruption have become the order of the day, the importance of having a workforce that exemplifies this skill cannot be emphasised enough.
The good thing is that resilience is a skill that can be developed. And while some build it up through their own personal journeys, as an organisation, you need to take proactive measures towards establishing a resilient culture.
One of the best ways companies can build resilience in the workplace is by bringing in a resilience speaker or trainer to work closely with their people to help them establish this winning culture.
The alternative, of course, is to wait for challenges to strike and then find ways to bounce back and learn from those situations.
Obviously, the latter is not ideal. As a business, you want to be well prepared for disruption or disaster as opposed to finding yourself in a reactive situation, whatever shape that may present itself in.
Five benefits of training Resilience in the workplace
Thankfully, resilience planning is a thing, and it can help companies – big and small – equip their workforce with the tools to cope effectively with challenges while at the same time providing a solid platform for them to thrive in the face of change and adversity.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the potential benefits companies stand to gain by instilling a resilient culture at the workplace.
Resilient employees are more adaptable
No industry is immune to change. In fact, over the last decade or so, the world is changing faster than our ability to adapt. As such, companies that are able to adapt seamlessly are more likely not only to survive the disruption in their business or industry but also to prosper when many others are finding it difficult to stay afloat.
Highly adaptable employees are better equipped to deal with unexpected changes and attune to new ways of doing things, and that adaptability comes with resilience. They are open-minded and flexible, and are able to adapt to the demands that come with shifting circumstances.
Adaptable employees also find it easier to deal with unexpected events. They are solution-oriented in a way that helps the company successfully navigate rough patches.
Resilient employees are better at solving problems
Much like positive thinking encourages looking at the glass from a half-full perspective, resilience teaches individuals to find opportunities in adversity. Obstacles do not get in the way of resilient employees. They may stave off their momentum temporarily, but ultimately, resilient employees view obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow.
Resilient employees normalise approaching difficulties and setbacks with an analytical and creative mindset. They are drilled in the culture of developing multiple solutions to a single problem, and they are empowered to try out different approaches until they arrive at the most viable solutions.
A resilience speaker or coach can help instil this mentality in your employees.
Resilience improves productivity
Obstacles and adversity will always be there, but resilient employees do not let these deter them from performing effectively.
Obviously, humans are not robots. As much as personal or workplace issues may linger in the back of the mind, highly resilient employees are able to cast them aside and maintain a high level of focus. This allows them to not only stay on top of their work but also to perform diligently.
Highly resilient employees are less likely to miss work through stress, mental health issues or physical illness. They are more positive-minded and committed to team goals and the organisational mission as a whole. They derive more satisfaction from their work and are more likely to find meaning and fulfilment in their work.
By teaching employees the skill of resilience, they are more likely to successfully achieve individual and team goals, and by extension, push the company where it wants to be.
Resilience protects employee mental health
Resilient employees are able to manage stress better, and maintain a healthier work-life balance. This can result in improved mental health and well-being.
By developing resilience skills, individuals handle setbacks and manage stress more effectively. They maintain a positive outlook, recognise and manage emotions, and seek support when needed.
This explains why resilient employees are less likely to experience burnout. Although stressful situations persist, resilience prevents stress from becoming overwhelming.
Employees who are less stressed are less likely to call in sick or take time off due to burnout. Studies show that resilient employees reduce costs associated with presenteeism, which can reach tens of billions annually.
Overall, resilience positively impacts employee mental health, leading to increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs for the organisation.
Resilient organisations enjoy less turnover
Employee turnover is something companies need to curtail. Not only does it lead to loss of your best talent, but also, exiting employee salaries can be a huge drag on a company’s finances.
Businesses that prioritise employee resilience coaching have lower quit rates compared to their peers. Resilience training enables employees to better cope with the demands and challenges of the workplace.
As a result, they enjoy improved job satisfaction, which by extension means higher employee retention for the company, as well as increased loyalty to the organisation. That can only be a good thing.
What’s more, organisations that undertake resilience training for their employees will make their employees feel more valued and supported. This can increase employees’ desire to stay long-term.
Team Resilience
Bo Parfet is a philanthropist, real estate professional, and co-founder of Denali Venture Philanthropy, in a professional leadership position. He contends that one of the most effective ways to build team resilience is through co-elevation. This involves a mindset shift where every team member acknowledges and intends shared growth, accountability and trust.
Conclusion
As you can see, training resilience in the workplace can be a win-win for everyone.
In a competitive job market, offering resilience training in your employee welfare program can set you apart. Moreover, the spillover benefits from such training—both direct and indirect—can lead to greater company success.
However, bringing in a keynote speaker to train your workforce on resilience requires careful planning. A single speech cannot transform organisational culture. Regular speaker invitations work better, providing ongoing reinforcement. Even better, organise resilience workshops where the speaker or trainer spends ample time with your employees. This approach allows for deeper engagement and lasting impact.
