A buzzword for the ages, wellbeing encompasses more than just health. At its heart is a need for resilience, a solid base from which to experience the rollercoaster of life. Being resilient means having the ability to hold onto your wellbeing through any twists and turns – and it should be an important factor in a business’s wellbeing plan. Here are some ways to make sure resilience is strong in your workforce.
Sell the big picture
For employees, having a clear image of the purpose of their work will make them more resilient to change and challenges. Be sure to keep everyone – from the part time office assistant to high level executives – in the know about what the business is trying to achieve. It is much easier to roll with the everyday ups and downs of work if you have a goal in sight.
Feeling fulfilled by your job will in turn boost resilience and ensure that staff stick around for the long haul. Much is lost in the recruiting and training of staff – so their longevity is key to everyone’s success.
Boost positive vibes
A workplace that celebrates wins and promotes gratitude is sure to bolster the emotional health of its people, which in turn makes them more resilient. Giving thanks for a job well done, for extra effort, for good team spirit, or for any success, will help your people to feel more united in their goals and more appreciated in their day-to-day work.
The same goes for recognising birthdays and work anniversaries – these celebrations might seem superfluous but they help staff to feel like they count, reducing imposter syndrome and giving everyone a welcome break from the daily grind.
Take a mentor mindset on leadership
Recognising that not everyone is going to hit the ground running is an important part of ensuring a resilient workforce. Enabling learning on the job and helping staff through personalised coaching will bring your workforce up to the standard you are looking for, without risking the loss of good people to the pitfalls of low self-esteem.
The hierarchical command and conquer mindset is history – the future is collaborative and involves continuous development. Help each staff member set some goals – seeing your road to achievement is a great way to boost resilience.
Open lines of communication
Good morale comes from communication being open and free for everyone and between everyone. For management, a good way to foster confidence and therefore resiliency in your staff members is to ask insightful questions. If delivered well, this can cause an employee to see things in a different way, allowing them to come to their own conclusion about the best way forward, which bolsters self-confidence.
Body language also speaks volumes and shouldn’t be ignored. Noticing that someone is unhappy before they have voiced it will also help them feel appreciated and seen. Once you have noticed, then it is important to listen. Active listening involves engaging with the speaker without passing judgement on what they are saying. It can be an art form and takes some practice but it pays dividends for boosting resilience – which is what we are all looking for as we move through this unsettling time together.
We have all been through a lot in the last couple of years and resilience has never been so important. If you need help building a wellbeing plan that promotes resilience for your business, get in touch with the expert consultants at Freerange Works on hello@freerangeworks.co.nz.