Stress management in the workplace and resilience go hand-in-hand.
We all know that work is an environment with high demands, heavy workloads, and tight deadlines. Not to mention working with others and managing potential conflicts.
And then there’s the added pressure of continuous connection to emails and apps.
Stress is an inevitable part of work. The difference is how we deal with this stress and bounce back from it. This is resilience.
Why you need to build resilience
The ability to manage stress effectively and build resilience makes a huge difference to the wellbeing and productivity of your staff.
Fostering a resilient team is not only the right thing to do for them as people, it’s the right thing to do for your business.
Building resilience is an essential strategy to develop your team’s ability to deal with stress, conflicts, day-to-day challenges, and unexpected issues, as well as manage work-life balance.
It can help them successfully navigate challenges, adapt to change, and maintain high performance.
Stress is part of work, and life. We all need a bit of stress or pressure. It gets us up and going in the morning and motivates us to get things done. But too much stress can quickly become a problem. In high levels, stress can interfere with our capacity to think clearly and make effective decisions.
The Australian Psychological Society found that workplace stress affects a significant portion of the workforce, leading to mental health issues, decreased productivity, and higher turnover rates.
The importance of resilience
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from our personal or workplace challenges. It doesn’t mean that you don’t experience stress or emotion.
It means that when you face adversity, trauma, or crises, you can bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going. Resilience is about how you cope and manage your mental health in these situations.
Resilience is vital to our wellbeing. Addressing workplace stress and mental health is essential to improving workplace culture, resilience, and, in turn, productivity and growth.
When you build a more resilient team, your people can handle stress better and develop their own protective strategies.
Plus, there are other benefits, such as:
- Greater job satisfaction, work happiness, organisational commitment and work engagement
- Improved self-esteem, a sense of control over life events, a sense of purpose in life and improved workplace and personal relationships
- Not to mention the business benefits of increased productivity
Tips for building resilience in your team
Building a resilient team is about creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to overcome challenges.
Here are some things you can do to help you and your team build resilience.
1. Encourage open communication
Create an environment where your team feels safe to express their concerns and challenges to get and give others support. Regular check-ins and an open-door policy can foster trust and transparency.
2. Provide support and resources
Offer resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), stress management and resilience-building workshops, and mental health resources. Giving your team access to professional support can help them manage their stress.
3. Promote work-life balance
Encourage people to take regular breaks, use their leave, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Flexible work arrangements are a good way to help them manage their responsibilities.
4. Foster a positive work culture
Cultivate a positive and supportive culture and improve morale and resilience by recognising good work, celebrating achievements, encouraging teamwork, and making time for social events.
5. Develop skills
Provide training and development opportunities to help people build their skills and confidence with training programs that teach mindfulness, problem-solving, and emotional regulation techniques.
6. Lead by example
Show others how you handle stress and setbacks, and be honest and open about your own challenges and coping strategies. This can help set the tone for your team.
7. Set realistic goals
Ensure that work goals and expectations are realistic and achievable. Overloading people with unattainable targets and tasks can lead to stress and burnout. Setting clear and attainable goals helps them feel a sense of accomplishment and control.
8. Encourage peer support
Peer support networks, where employees can share experiences and strategies for coping with stress, can provide a sense of community and mutual encouragement.
9. Implement stress management strategies
Encourage your team to exercise regularly, eat well, and practice mindfulness. Providing on-site fitness facilities or mindfulness sessions are good ways to promote physical and mental wellbeing.
10. Monitor workload and responsibilities
Monitor and adjust workloads to make sure they’re manageable and balanced. We all know that when we are overburdened, we can quickly get overwhelmed and stressed.
Building resilience requires commitment and a consistent effort, but the benefits are worth it.
Resilient teams are not only better equipped to handle stress and adversity but are also more engaged, productive, and satisfied with their work.
As a manager, your role in fostering resilience is essential.
By using some of these strategies, you can create and build a supportive and resilient work environment where your team can thrive.
Improved self-esteem, a sense of control over life events, a sense of purpose in life and improved workplace and personal relationships.
Sources
- Australian Psychological Society - Stress in the workplace.
- Red Cross UK - What is the relationship between resilience and stress in the workplace.
- American Psychiatric Association - Resilience: A strong workforce needs it
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.