How to Build Resilience in the 'work' place

How many of us have had work calls and heard kids shouting, screaming in the background? My heart goes out to the HR professionals, Sales Directors, Commercial managers, and everyone that is carrying on working under severe strain. We've all been there over the last few months. Luckily my kids are now 'screenagers' so the noise levels aren't an issue, but the reality is working from home isn't easy

The article I've written below outlines some of the tools that I have encountered whilst working with organisations during Covid-19. It outlines how organisations are combating stress and bouncing back with effective resilience tools. You'll be surprised at the simplicity and effectiveness of the techniques.

If you would like to discuss any of these techniques in depth don't hesitate to drop me, Adele Stickland, a message here on LinkedIn.

Mental ill-health and Covid-19

The mental health issues, created by Covid-19, has taken a huge amount of managerial time. Increased stress combined with the transition to home working led to an initial dramatic change in team dynamics which at the beginning of lockdown lead to a reduction in productivity. 

Working remotely has now been pushed upon us all, and where it was previously seen as the perfect solution to childcare and personal freedom it is instead increasing the feeling of isolation, alienation and stagnation. 

This article will outline what individuals and organisations can do to increase their resilience in the face of these issues and stresses. And the steps organisations can make in creating a robust, strong and resilient workforce that leads to a more productive and profitable organisation.

Mental ill-health at work

Before Covid-19 mental ill health and the increasing effect of stress in the workplace were looming larger on the worldwide agenda. In 2019 the WHO cited that stress and burnout was now a work hazard and an occupational phenomenon defining it as a “state of vital exhaustion”

"Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed" WHO 2019

Prior to Covid-19 stress and burnout was costing the UK workplace:

"Mental ill health in the workplace costs UK businesses ￡45 billion a year over half of this amount comes from the rising cost of leaveism and presenteeism"

White Paper: How much is stress in the workplace costing? Download free copy click here

We can only speculate the effect that Covid Stress and indeed Covid Trauma will have on individuals and its repercussions to organisations in the longer term. Whilst Covid-19 has had an initial direct effect on employee wellbeing, the ripple effect will be seen when individuals reflect on how organisations deal with the crisis - logistically and in terms of employee wellbeing.

Proactive organisations have recognised that how these issues are handled now will have repercussions for decades to come. Putting in place communications programmes and resilient training have smoothed the transitions.

The blurred line between work and home - and developing and retaining a clear and distinct work/life balance - has never been so critical to improve the lives of employees and sustain organisational productivity.

Work colleagues are missing out on the indirect benefits of being in the workplace - the shared companionship, creative fluidity and camaraderie that the office space provided has all been lost. 

Research has shown that simple & proactive resilience training offers organisations an ROI return on investment five times (5:1) In some industry sectors as much as 11:1 ROI

Retaining and attracting key performers is crucial so that businesses thrive.

Well-being, resilience organisational programmes that actively tackle and therefore prevent employee mental health issues have a dramatic impact on organisational productivity, profitability, and company brand profile. In sectors wanting to attract and retain their best staff, creating innovative and solution-based workforce, investment in their employee wellbeing is not only essential but also increases organisational profitability as well as organisational longevity in these uncertain times. 

Improved resilience means a workforce who can self-manage through increased self-confidence from a base of strong wellbeing, that creates stronger more cohesive, and innovative teams so that organisations flourish and thrive despite unprecedented changes.

“Resilience is about being able to overcome the unexpected.

Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive”

Jamais Cascio (one of the top 100 Global Thinkers 2009)

Resilience activities for the workplace

Whilst I have been working with organisations during the Covid-19 crisis a number of simple and effective initiatives have emerged, that have helped for instance:

• Gift of Time activity: take one hour out of everyone’s week – great for team morale.
• 45mins zoom meetings - cut the meetings short by 15mins, so employees 'rest' before the next zoom call.
• Lunchtime and after-hours walk
• Ensure leaders have an automated email response out of hours after 5 pm Using an email signature containing a phrase like: ‘I’m working out of usual hours because it suits me, but I don’t expect you to respond until your usual working hours’.
• Social zoom parties - gin parties, bread making, quizzes have all been incredibly successful and a welcome respite.
• Gratitude activity: first 5 minutes of each team meeting with a round of sharing what or who you’re grateful for.
• Big 3 tasks: the night before write down: the big 3 that need to be achieved in order for tomorrow to be a successful day.
• Reflection: At the end of the day, assess your day and your productivity against the Big 3 and congratulate yourself on your progress.

Way forward

Find out more about supporting the entire team simply drop me Adele Stickland a message here on LinkedIn or visit:

w: https://bit.ly/corporateresilience

e: [email protected]

Create a powerful resilience programme that will assist organisations to stay in front of the curve and offers both managers and organisations the ability to have a mental reserve of strength that leaders are able to call upon in times of need.

If you would like a copy of my recently published White Paper: ‘Resilience in the Workplace’, contact me Adele Stickland a message here on LinkedIn:

DOWNLOAD a copy of my recently published White Paper: 

“How much is mental ill-health in the workplace costing?" and steps to how you can bring resilience back into your workplace

https://bit.ly/corporateresilience 

This article was originally posted on How to Build Resilience: https://bit.ly/2KJLRbR