Resilience helps cope with stress

It’s fair to say that if you hear the word ‘resilience’ used a fair bit these days, it’s because resilience does actually help us cope with the daily challenges of living and working present.  

Managing the myriad of situations life continually throws our way does take resilience, and all of these stresses inevitably have an effect on how people perform in the workplace. 

Grit helps drive passion and performance

Wherever we live, we live in a challenging world, so developing the characteristics of grit makes a difference if you want to be happy and successful. Having grit can predict success in a lot of areas, including relationships, work choices, ‘stickability’ and success in a job. 

Meaningful work helps create happier, healthier organisations

Happiness (reframed as ‘flourishing’ by Professor Martin Seligman, the father of Positive Psychology at Pennsylvania University), is a by-product of doing meaningful things. 

If you want to find ways to improve your own happiness and that of people you work with, Seligman’s PERMA model is a great place to start. 

P – Positive emotions. Try viewing the past, present and future in an optimistic way. Having positive emotions, such as those experienced when enjoying a task, has been shown to help people generate creative and alternative solutions when faced with challenges. 

E – Engaged. Do activities that you enjoy. Be absorbed, interested and involved in your work. It’s unrealistic to think that you’ll enjoy every aspect of it, but if you have had a challenging day, are there activities you can do when you get home that really engage you and you can submerge yourself in? 

R – Relationships. It’s important to be connected, supported and valued by other people in your organisation. Having positive relationships with others is an important part of life, both in and out of work. 

M – Meaning in life. Have a sense of purpose in your work/life. Meaning provides the sense that your work matters. Understanding the greater impact of your work and why you chose to do it will help you enjoy the tasks more and become more satisfied and happier.

A – Achievement. Setting realistic goals and achieving them at work and in your personal life can give you a great sense of pride and fulfilment.