The world of work is rapidly changing. With the rise of automation, remote work and shifting skill demands, it can be hard to keep ahead of the curve. In a tough economy, where top talent is at a premium, building a resilient workforce has never been more critical.
Companies that are making changes to build a culture of resilience will be best positioned to get ahead of the competition (and stay ahead!).
The importance of employee resilience
Employee resilience is widely understood to improve job satisfaction, productivity, company loyalty and employee engagement.
In a world where burnout is increasing, resilience enables employees (and therefore companies) to embrace and adapt to change when it happens. While you can’t eliminate the need for change – or likely reduce the stress caused by it – you can foster a culture of resilience that is able to bounce back faster and adapt more effectively.
Employee wellbeing is crucial to building a resilient workforce. As workers increasingly struggle with burnout. In a recent McKinsey survey, it was reported that almost half (49%) of employees report being at least somewhat burned out – and that’s likely an underrepresentation of the real number.
Protecting employees mental health; your most important asses
Businesses should focus on providing access to mental health resources such as wellness programs or counselling services that help employees tackle problems before they grow into something more substantial.
Post Covid, there’s more focus on work-life balance than ever before, with employees looking for increased flexibility about how, when and where they work. Businesses should work with employees to find strategies that work for all involved. After all, when employees feel more supported, they’re more likely to be engaged and productive, reducing stress and allowing them to be more resilient.
Fueling growth and adaptability through a culture of learning and development
With 94% of employees stating they’d stay longer at a company if there were investments in their learning and development there’s a clear need for businesses to consider how they can implement or improve their approach to L&D.
By upskilling (or re-skilling) employees, businesses can reap the rewards in the war for top talent. Whether it’s online courses, conferences or mentoring programs, encouraging employees to expand their skills and knowledge can help them adapt to changing demands in their work.
With a focus on growth opportunities, not only can they become more resilient but it shows the value you place on their professional development which can lead to increased loyalty and commitment, improving your overall employer brand. It’s a win-win.
Equipping them for success by harnessing innovation
As technology continues to change the way we work, businesses should look to embrace innovation to improve their employee resilience.
With much talk about the future of AI and automation, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by what the future may hold. However, companies can embrace emerging technological advancements to their advantage, streamlining manual processes, enhancing productivity and equipping employees with the tools they need to work more efficiently.
By removing some of the manual strain, or repetitive day-to-day tasks, it allows employees to focus on improving the rest of their work (while relieving workload).
With a focus on embracing emerging technologies vs fighting against them, you can improve your employee resilience and thrive in the future.
Leveraging the power of teamwork
Collaboration is key for a more resilient workforce. By building a more collaborative workforce, you can reduce the burden on individual employees, making them feel more engaged with the organization.
Foster creativity, innovation and problem-solving by implementing collaborative tools such as project management software, communication platforms and the facilitation of teamwork to allow seamless collaboration together.
Using the power of collaboration, teams – especially cross-functional ones – can tackle challenges together and achieve better results, reducing the stress on individual employees.
Create a sense of belonging in the workplace through diversity and inclusion
It’s no secret that more diverse and inclusive workplaces are more productive with a study from Gartner revealing that a highly diverse environment can improve team performance by up to 30%, with McKinsey & Company noting that the most diverse companies outperform their less diverse peers by 36% in profitability.
By fostering a sense of belonging within a company it helps employees feel more valued, included and respected. Instead of individual employees dealing with microaggressions, or battling to be heard and seen, they feel they belong, allowing them to succeed in their work – reducing everyday stress.
A diverse team brings together different perspectives, talents and experiences, leading to better decision-making and improved employee morale.
The process of building resilience
The pandemic forced businesses – and employees – to reevaluate the way they work. People are seeking more purpose in their work, looking to make a difference and create positive change. Purpose can drive resilience, bringing together employees with a collective mission, helping them create meaningful impact together.
Building resilience isn’t something that happens overnight. It should be a continuous process working to establish trust, collaboration and create an environment where all employees feel supported and able to grow.
Not only will building resilience help support employees, but it allows companies to adapt to the changing economic challenges at a faster pace, keeping them a step ahead of the competition.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for help with your volume-hiring campaigns, we’d love to help. Chat with us here.
Read more: Looking to stop burnout in your team? Read about how here