What Is Resilience?

Search the word "resilience" online and you will find millions of explanations. But what does resilience actually mean, why is it important to you, and how can you benefit from resilience training?

We all respond differently to setbacks, failure and trauma. Some people seem to bounce back quickly, while others get caught in a downward spiral of negative thinking. We all know that person: the one who keeps going after every setback, the one who seems to have "Psychological Teflon". Research suggests this is the effect of resilience (1).

At its core, resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. It is the capacity to find perspective, and even opportunity, in a difficult or challenging situation. In the modern workplace, resilience helps us navigate constant change, hybrid work pressures, rapid technology shifts including AI, competing priorities and growing workloads.

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Why Is Resilience Important?

Beyond the buzz, evidence shows that people with high resilience have a more balanced outlook on life and believe they can learn from mistakes and challenges. Resilient individuals handle adversity better and rebuild more effectively after major life events such as job loss, financial pressure, relationship breakdown or the death of a loved one.

In everyday life, put simply, resilience builds happiness. It helps us make the most of the challenges we face. Resilience will not prevent difficulties, but it prepares us to deal with them more effectively. You may not realise it, but resilience shapes how we respond in almost every situation. There are probably people in your life or workplace who are juggling multiple stressors yet still show up each day with a smile.

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The Cost of Low Resilience in the Workplace

The effects of a non-resilient workplace can be far-reaching. Low levels of resilience have been associated with:

  • Increased absenteeism
  • Higher accident rates and workers compensation claims
  • Reduced morale
  • Poor workplace relationships
  • Reduced output and performance
  • Increased staff turnover

After years of disruption, from the pandemic to economic uncertainty and the rise of AI in the workplace, burnout and change fatigue are at record levels. Being able to identify stressors, and understand the effect they have on you and the people around you, has never been more important. With all of the above creating potentially toxic effects across an organisation, building a culture of resilience through resilience training should be a no-brainer for every employer.

Can Resilience Be Taught?

Some people are naturally more resilient than others, but the evidence is clear: resilience can be learned. Resilience training provides real-world strategies and techniques that help you build your "resilience bank". That way, when a challenge inevitably comes your way, you will have effective tools ready to support you.

Key Takeaways

Resilience is not an extraordinary quality. It is ordinary, attainable and demonstrated by everyday people all around us. But resilience is an active process. We need to keep working on it, for ourselves and for a happy, mentally healthy workforce.