Resilient In The Workplace And Beyond

Today’s examination of ways to expand on your resiliency takes a holistic approach, considering ways both in and out of the workplace to create a more resilient you. You don’t have to tackle that task alone–and shouldn’t be! Know that within your workplace, you have your professional community to turn to in both your co-workers and your employers. And you can always reach out to your greater support network beyond. As the saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”  A phenomenal way to achieve and amplify your resilience wherever you are is to make sure you’re turning towards those whose areas of expertise complement your areas of opportunity for insights. Today’s suggestions and methods from the pros focus on these elements of persistence to help you develop your ability to bounce back quickly at work and beyond. 

In her article on “Seven Things Resilient Employees Do Differently” at Psychology Today, Paula Davis-Laack J.D., M.A.P.P. points out a key trick for resilient employees: “They develop high-quality connections. One big building block of resilience is connection, but not just any old connection. High-quality relationships are critical to resilience. According to business and psychology professor, Jane Dutton, there are four distinct pathways for building high-quality connections at work. The first is respectfully engaging others by communicating supportively and being an effective listener. Second, facilitate another person’s success with guidance, recognition, and support. Third, build trust, which can be done by relying on another person to follow through on projects and other commitments.” Make sure you’re both listening and speaking to your colleagues to ensure the strongest connections; communication is a two-way street. Express your needs while also keeping in mind that you will need to support others. And the practice you get at building up these kinds of connections in your workplace is a skill that you can apply to all the other areas of your life. 

Brenda Wong at Debut also offers up this stellar tip for building up your resilience: “Try to establish a good work/life balance. You know what’ll take a toll on you? A bad work/life balance. Here’s why: if your life’s purpose is tied to only one thing, you’ll be worse for wear when you encounter things that knock that purpose. It’s like what they say, right? Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Find hobbies outside of work that bring you joy. Find a side hustle that fulfills you. Nurture the relationships you have with others outside the office, and try new things. Having a good work/life balance will help you build resilience at work because it’ll help you see that there’s just more to life. After all, you can hash out the stress from the day at the gym, or bake your worries away.” These slower moments while the world proceeds through unprecedented circumstances provide a perfect time to dive into all of your interests, especially the ones you don’t get to focus on while on the clock! While it may feel strange to focus on fun, doing so is a necessary component of developing a holistic and balanced sense of resilience. And while staying mentally present in your workplace interactions is a fundamental component of success, we know that having something to look forward to after your workday or work week can help provide an extra bit of a mood boost.

While current events are certainly unprecedented circumstances, they won’t last forever. Take the time now to develop a greater sense of resiliency to serve you when we come out on the other side–together. So make sure that while you’re completing your professional tasks, you’re cultivating strong connections with everyone around you in your workplace community. We know that there’s more to your life than just your work. In order to show up as your best self when you’re on the clock, make sure you’re cultivating your strengths and interests in other areas of your life, too. This holistic approach will ensure you’re arriving to work every day as your best self. Join us again tomorrow as we finish off the week with our Feel Good Friday: Resilience edition.

Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.

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