What you Need to Know About Workplace Resilience Training

What Does Resilience Training in the Workplace Mean?

Workplace resilience is the potential of an individual to withstand, bounce back from, and work through challenging moments or circumstances at work. Managing a heavy workload, a frustrating colleague or demanding manager, or dealing with a reorganization are just some examples of workplace situations requiring resilience.

With a resilient mindset at work, individuals can better:

• self-regulate emotions like frustration,
• maintain a optimistic outlook, and
• develop and sustain positive relationships.

Why Should Employers Care about Resilience?  

The economic burden of mental health has been quantified at over $210 billion with nearly half of these costs attributed to the workplace. Both absenteeism (missed days from work) and presenteeism (reduced productivity while at work) are to blame. It’s clear that business bears the burden of poor worker mental health and stress.

The pandemic became the breaking point. Burnout is now such a serious issue that Harvard Business Review published a 6-part series called, “The Burnout Crisis” and declared it one of the “most pressing topics facing business today.” 

Employees who are engaged and thriving report lower levels of daily stress. Burnout prevention requires both high engagement and high employee wellbeing. Employers are uniquely positioned to support employees in enhancing these areas. 

Hence, resilience training emerges as the ultimate workplace burnout prevention strategy.

What are the Benefits of Workplace Resilience Training?

The positive effects of resilience are well-documented. Decades of empirical studies demonstrate that resilience improves:

• productivity and engagement in the workplace.
• physical health, and

optimism and well-being.Resilience also reduces:

• and twarts conduct issues, depression, and anxiety, and 
• substance abuse and mental health diagnoses

The impact of resilience training is profound; decreasing symptoms by 30%. Even so, individuals who’ve participated in resilience training come away with high levels of satisfaction and positivity even when effects are not measured. They reveal better sleep, a changed mindset on work stress, and a consciousness for gratitude, among other things. 

Your organization may already have a strong wellness program in place to combat stress. Don’t be fooled, though, into believing you’re concurrently training for resilience. Resilience and stress management are two distinct tactics. 

Relaxation and stress management are encouraged by pool tables, yoga classes, and on-site dry cleaning. These amenities don’t, however, hit at the source; nor do they attract all employees.

Resilience is considered a proactive, long-term measure against mental distress. Stress management, on the other hand, is more reactive to specific moments in time. Becoming resilient empowers you to learn how to stay resilient for the long haul, in addition to getting through a particularly stressful time.

How to Create a Workplace Culture that Supports Resilience

Training often does not get prioritized in the chaos of a busy work day. Therefore, it’s important for the organization to demonstrate the importance of taking time out for resilience training. Workers are more likely to participate in resilience training activities if:

• managers and senior leadership also take part. Resilience training should be offered to all employees. 

• leadership supports and encourages workers to do so. Managers should be aware of these practices and for that they should be educated accordingly. Management training is one solution to build and refresh this knowledge. 

• the organization’s wellbeing programs are incorporated into this resilience mindset. Using vacation days, workplace health programs, and professional development should all be encouraged.

What Does Resilience Training Look Like in Practice?

Resilience training is more than psychobabble and positive thinking. Targeting resilience helps workers improve their Emotional Intelligence (EI). Individuals with strong EI, then, increase their chances of success.  

Effective training sessions typically engage in practical, guided mindfulness and gratitude exercises through role play with both work and life scenarios:

• Self-awareness activities
• Mindful listening
• Breathing techniques
• Relationship strategies for helping others
• Self-compassion practices

These recharging tactics-- practiced in short bursts throughout the day-- can establish the underpinnings for new routines and habits.

Resilient at Home, Resilient at Work

Employees who are unhappy at home bring that mental baggage to the workplace. Teaching employees how to be resilient at home is a responsibility that organizations should encourage.

Remote working is now firmly established in our post-pandemic work lives. With this in mind, it continues to be important for the blurred lines between home and work to become more defined. 

Employees can make working from home work better by establishing boundaries to maintain work and home life balance. Creating little habits, rituals, and routines help to make working from home sustainable. For example:

• Setting “Out of Office” replies during lunch, after work hours, and on weekends. 
• Avoiding video calls, if possible.
• Taking calls outside for a “walk and talk.” 
• Turning off certain lights (i.e., desk light), closing the door to a home office, taking a run, or enjoying a cocktail to signal the end of the work day.

Training for resilience empowers individuals with practical skills for work and beyond. 

Staff at all levels in an organization can beat burnout with a resilient, growth mindset– the ultimate burnout resistance strategy. 

About the Author - Rama Eriksson

Rama Eriksson is a Content Editor at findcourses.com. Her writing is complemented by 15+ years as an international marketing professional. She brings her experience and curiosity to connect professionals to the right training to help further their goals. Originally from the New York area, Rama has lived in Stockholm, Sweden since 2010.