Overview
We all juggle personal, family, social, financial and work demands. Most of us do well, but any of us could be blindsided by an unexpected crisis or overwhelmed when stressors start to pile up.
Some stressors may diminish over time, while others may become more prominent. Stressors aren’t always bad and don’t necessarily lead to negative feelings. Sometimes what appears to be a crisis can lead to post-traumatic growth by helping us learn, evolve or choose a more positive path. The more resilient we are, the more likely that we’ll be able to benefit in this way.
I used to think resilience meant we blame the victim and expect them to toughen up. I was wrong.
As you work through this resource, you’ll explore factors that could test your resilience. These can cause unwelcome stress for some people. The protective strategies suggested can help develop resilience and enhance your ability to cope when a crisis does occur. Brainstorming options to overcome challenges, taking action when you feel paralyzed by fear or worry, learning from your mistakes, and building a network of support are just some of the protective strategies to consider.
Creating a plan may not help us avoid the crisis but can make it easier to get through it.
The Plan for resilience: workplace edition | PDF includes the following sections. Some include a link to a short video or article to help explain the content:
- Developing personal resilience
- Recognizing your automatic responses to stress
- Choosing healthier strategies
- Recognizing and exploring your stressors
- Balancing your support network
- Explore your options
- Identify and use your strengths
- Work resilience for leaders
- Work resilience for employees
- Work resilience for the self-employed
- And more…
In this workplace edition, there are separate pages to deal with work resilience for leaders, for employees and for the self-employed. Leaders are guided to think about the impact on their employees and organization if they’re unable to work. Employees consider the personal and professional impact on themselves. The self-employed are guided to think about business continuity strategies whether as a sole proprietor, independent consultant or small business owner. Not being able to work for any reason can exacerbate stress, especially if yours is the only source of income for your household. Letting down employees or clients can also add to your stress.
This resource is about creating a plan to build your resilience before you need it. Resilience will impact your quality of life, especially in times of crisis or strain. It should become a lifelong pursuit of continual improvement, but we all need to start somewhere.
There is another version of this resilience resource that was developed specifically for post-secondary students. From surviving to thriving: Developing personal and academic resilience | PDF is also free and available in French and English.
Workshop materials
Building resilience workshop
This workshop can include employees, leaders, those that are self−employed or post−secondary students. You can tailor it to any combination of these groups. Participants engage in a journey of self−discovery while creating a plan to improve their resilience and developing healthy coping strategies for whatever life throws at them.
Additional resources
Emotional intelligence for employees. Free activities to increase your ability to manage your reactions and control how you impact others. Building your emotional intelligence can help reduce stress.
Emotional intelligence self-assessment. This free tool can help you improve your self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and relationship management.
Managing stress. Learn how to manage your reactions to stress and protect your well-being.
Prevent burnout. Strategies to help identify risks and prevent burnout for yourself.
Work-life balance tips. Balancing your work and personal life can be challenging and stressful at times. These tips and strategies can help.