Resilience is the ability to adapt to life’s misfortunes and setbacks. It is an essential quality in the modern workplace but, when we list our personal skills on a CV, it’s one that rarely makes the page.
In a constantly connected, always-on work culture where, for many, stress is just part of the job, building up our personal resilience has become more important than ever. And, after spending almost two years in the grip of a pandemic, it’s no surprise that resilience levels are low.
The Global Workplace Study 2020, which monitored how the Covid-19 pandemic affected engagement and workplace resilience across 25 countries, showed that only 15% of employees globally were considered ‘highly resilient’.
However, the report also showed that employees are 14 times more likely to be fully engaged if they have trust in their team leader.
As 2022 comes into sight, now is the time to focus on growing and rebuilding our inner reserves to be the best we can be at work. Here are four key ways to build up resilience going into a new year.
Stay connected
Having a solid and strong relationship with other members of a team can really help to build up endurance for dealing with stressful work situations. Connecting with colleagues can initiate support and guidance and help us maintain perspective when things get tough, which in turn creates positive emotions and empathy.
Meeting up outside of work and developing a friendship away from the office can help to strengthen these connections. Alternatively, build up trust by asking for advice or working together.
Work from different locations
While remote working became the norm in 2020, born out of necessity because of the pandemic, employees increasingly want or expect to operate in a hybrid model that allows them to split time between an office HQ, their home and a local coworking space.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 85% of adults who worked from home during periods of lockdown now view a hybrid working arrangement as ideal. It creates a better work-life balance, thereby reducing stress that, in turn, makes people better equipped to deal with day-to-day challenges both at work and at home.
Look after yourself
When our endurance levels are at an all-time low, it can be all too easy to take it personally when things don’t go our way and this can affect our health and wellbeing. Resilience is the first thing to suffer when we are feeling run down and stressed out.
“Resilience isn’t just about learning ways to cope with difficult challenges,” says David Pich, CEO at the Institute of Managers and Leaders, in Heads Up. “It’s about identifying ways that will help you move forward so you don’t get ‘stuck’ in places that are detrimental to your overall wellbeing.”
So, it’s important to look after our mental health and wellbeing, including taking time out, exercising and having regular screen breaks. Working from a neighbourhood coworking space will reduce your daily commute and, in turn, improve your work/life balance and lower stress levels.
Expand your network
For those who are part of the growing band of freelancers, and may work alone, it’s even more important to build up personal resilience. Without support from colleagues, it can be difficult to overcome different challenges that arise. This is where it’s advisable to expand your working circle.
Spaces’ coworking locations, for example, organise regular networking events where members can mix and mingle with other like-minded folk.
Whether it’s a business network or a community meet-up, expanding our reach of people we deal with can build up our resolve to face challenges and offer a new perspective on situations.
In short, resilience means more than just coping or getting by. It makes us more flexible, more optimistic and more able to adapt to new situations.
With coworking locations all over the globe, find out how Spaces could enable you to start the new year as you mean to go on.
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