Toxic Resilience: The Dark Side of "Doing More"

I was listening a Podcast yesterday from Steven Bartelt about Mental Health and got shock with some numbers.

According to Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a doctor that found herself under strong stress and didn’t found doctors to help her, decides to study stress further down. On her study the numbers are really shocking:

• 72% of people struggle with Stress.
• 70% of people has a sign of Burnout.
• 2 of 3 parents have Burnout with parenting.

Our body is built to be stress resilient and all energy is drawn to fight that. That works well with acute stress (escape from a Lion) where our amygdala activates the fight or flight response. However, the problem grows when we live in a chronic stress level, meaning, we have daily small levels of stress that are accumulating overtime.

The modern life convenience brought us to avoid acute stress, and have increased chronic stress, like financial difficulties, lack of proper emotional support, position pressure, body image pressure, competition pressure and so on. There are no more “Lions” out there on daily basis, but a lot of pressure.

According to Dr. Aditi, 60% of people has problem to disconnect from the work. Work addiction is a signal of atypical burnout, according to new definitions. And we are not listening the signals. Work addiction is ok if it doesn’t influence the other parts of your life. The question is: That is the lifestyle you want to live constantly for the next 10 years?

Toxic resilience

“Keep calm and carry on”. This famous sentence made us think that we need to do more when we struggle and move on. This sentence is a classical hustle culture of modern society and companies are built in this mindset, Do More.

We misuse the word Resilience during the last years, and haven’t look out our limitations, our struggles, and our basic needs.

In the pursuit of success, we often talk about resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity, stay strong in the face of challenges, and keep pushing forward.

While resilience is undoubtedly crucial, there's a disturbing trend that we can no longer ignore—a phenomenon known as "Toxic Resilience." It's a culture that glorifies overworking, perpetuates stress, and ultimately undermines the well-being of your most valuable asset: your people.

Mental Health interventions

Traditional initiatives for mental health in companies can sometimes fall short or fail for several reasons. Understanding these challenges is crucial to improving mental health support within organisations.

1. Stigma and Fear of Disclosure: Despite increased awareness, there is still a significant stigma around mental health in many workplaces. Employees may fear disclosing their mental health challenges due to concerns about discrimination, career repercussions, or being seen as weak. Traditional initiatives often do not adequately address this stigma.
2. Lack of Leadership Buy-In: Mental health initiatives require strong leadership support to succeed. When executives and managers do not prioritize mental health or model healthy behaviors, employees may feel that these initiatives are insincere or ineffective.
3. One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Traditional initiatives may adopt a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to mental health, which doesn't consider the unique needs and challenges of different employee groups. Mental health is a deeply personal experience, and solutions need to be tailored to individuals and their circumstances.
4. Limited Accessibility: Some mental health programs are not easily accessible to all employees. They may be geographically restricted, available only during specific hours, or require significant time away from work, making it challenging for employees to participate.
5. Insufficient Resources: Companies may allocate inadequate resources, including funding and staff, to their mental health programs. Without the necessary resources, initiatives may lack the reach and impact needed to address the scope of mental health challenges within the workforce.
6. Failure to Address Root Causes: Many traditional programs focus solely on symptom management and short-term fixes rather than addressing the root causes of workplace stress and mental health issues. Neglecting the underlying factors can lead to recurrent problems.
7. Lack of Integration: Mental health initiatives are sometimes treated as isolated programs rather than being integrated into the broader workplace culture and strategies. This lack of integration can result in a disconnect between the stated values of the organization and the everyday experiences of employees.
8. Ineffective Communication: Poor communication about mental health initiatives can hinder their success. Employees may not be aware of available resources or may receive mixed messages about the importance of mental health within the organization.
9. Overemphasis on Awareness: While raising awareness about mental health is essential, it is not sufficient on its own. Initiatives that focus solely on awareness campaigns without offering tangible support and resources may not lead to meaningful change.
10. Inconsistent Follow-Up: Mental health is an ongoing concern, and initiatives that provide initial support but lack follow-up and ongoing resources may not provide the sustained help that employees need.

?Drive the change

Today, I challenge all CEOs and business leaders to shift the focus from Toxic Resilience to building a culture of mental health and well-being within your organisations. Here's why this is not just a challenge but an imperative.

The Human Cost: Toxic Resilience exacts a toll on your employees' mental and physical health. It leads to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related illnesses. Your people are not expendable resources; they are the heart and soul of your organisation.

Decreased Productivity: Paradoxically, the constant pressure to "do more" can lead to decreased efficiency and effectiveness. Burnout saps creativity, innovation, and the capacity to make sound decisions.

Retention and Recruitment: Toxic work environments drive talented individuals away. The costs of replacing skilled professionals are far higher than the investment required to retain and nurture existing talent.

Cultural Impact: Toxic Resilience corrodes organizational culture, eroding trust, teamwork, and morale. In contrast, a culture that values mental health fosters a more inclusive, empathetic, and innovative workplace.

So, how can we make this shift?

The time has come to challenge the status quo and prioritize mental health over Toxic Resilience. It's not just a matter of corporate social responsibility; it's an investment in your organization's long-term success.?

As CEOs and business leaders, you have the power to create a workplace where your employees can thrive mentally, emotionally, and professionally. By fostering a culture of mental health, you're not only safeguarding the well-being of your team but also nurturing a more resilient, innovative, and successful organisation.

I am fascinated by people engagement and mental health at work.

Let's rise to this challenge together and build a brighter, healthier future for our companies and our people.

#MentalHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #Resilience #HealthyWorkplace #Leadership #ChallengeAccepted