Actionable Ways to Build Resilience in the Workplace
You could be in the best job in the world, but it’s a given that you will be faced with unexpected challenges and hurdles to overcome. This is unavoidable, but it’s how you respond to them that’s important. Having the ability to deal with the ups and downs of work and thrive in the face of adversity is key to becoming a resilient team member, and if there’s anything this past year has taught us, it’s that resilience can be learnt.
The pandemic has forced businesses and employees to adapt to a new way of working and in turn, become more resilient in the midst of uncertainty. Employers are valuing resilient team members now more than ever, with the skill emerging as a key personal attribute in the recruitment process. But how can you build your resilience in the workplace? We share some of our top tips.
Embrace change
Being able to embrace change and practice flexibility is key to being a resilient individual in the workplace. It’s easy to become stressed or anxious during a period of change, but learning to embrace the experience and adapt accordingly is significant, just as the world has done during the pandemic.
Prior to the first lockdown, statistics from Wiserd showed that around 5.7% of workers in the UK worked from home as of January/February 2020, and in April 2020, this had risen to 43.1%. 88.2% of employees who worked at home during COVID-19 would now like to continue working from home in some capacity, in a post-COVID world - reiterating that the more you embrace change, the more you open yourself up to new opportunities.
Tackle challenges head on
More often than not when faced with a challenge, it’s easy to shy away from it and bury your head in the sand, but this can prolong and even worsen the problem. Instead, try tackling the challenge head on and taking control of the situation. Whilst it may feel like a long uphill battle, every decision is a proactive step forward to fixing the problem.
Stay positive
When going through a testing time in the workplace, it’s normal to automatically feel stressed or a little negative. However, applying a positive mindset even in difficult situations can change the way you look at a problem and as a result, how you deal with it. When you view challenges as obstacles rather than problems, you will feel less stressed and are more likely to resolve the issue with a forward-thinking approach. Try looking for the positive learnings in every situation and how this opportunity can help progress you and your career.
Ask for support
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone when dealing with a stressful situation in the workplace, and that it’s ok to ask for support. Asking for help is not a negative reflection of your work, but actually a positive resilience skill. If you were dealing with a crisis situation in your home life, it’s likely you’d reach out to a friend or family member for support, and the same should apply to team members in the workplace. Having the confidence to accept limitations and ask for help is key to building resilience.
Hopefully these tips have inspired you to change your mindset and learn to embrace change. If you enjoyed this blog, why read about how to be more assertive at work?
