We live in turbulent times: Geopolitical challenges, climate risks and demographic developments are having a direct or indirect impact on the business world. At the same time, numerous industries are undergoing profound change due to digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence.
In the past, many people spent their entire working life with the same employer and in the same role. Today, most professional biographies are characterized by change. This makes the professional world more diverse, but also less secure. Against this backdrop, the ability to deal with change and stress is becoming increasingly important.
The term resilience originally comes from materials science and describes how certain materials return to their original shape after warping, e.g. a rubber ball.
In psychology, this "bouncing back" is transferred to the human psyche: Resilience is the ability to remain healthy, productive and fundamentally optimistic even in difficult circumstances. So it's all about inner resistance.
In contrast to mere endurance, resilience encompasses the active ability to adapt flexibly to new situations, learn from challenges and emerge stronger. To put it simply: Resilience is the strength to keep getting back up – even when life throws us off balance.
The basis of resilience is one's individual personality and formative moments in childhood. However, this ability is not static, but can be actively trained and promoted throughout life.
Many people experience sources of stress again and again in the course of their work. These include personnel or organizational changes, time and performance pressure, or a large number of complex tasks. Increasing digitalization is also changing and raising customer expectations. At the same time, tasks are increasingly being automated or artificial intelligence is being used. This can arouse fear and increase pressure.
Hybrid working in an office and from home creates new freedoms, but at the same time blurs the boundaries between professional and private life. Many people experience these changes as stress factors. They can affect well-being, motivation and performance.
Resilient people cope constructively with the challenges of the modern working world: They remain capable of acting and focus on solutions even in difficult times. This is also reflected in their health: Their risk of stress-related illnesses such as burnout or depression tends to be lower.
Resilience also has a positive influence on corporate culture: Resilient teams communicate more openly, support each other and find a solution more quickly in crisis situations. This also benefits the company; there are fewer absences, innovative strength is higher, and employee loyalty is stronger. These are decisive factors for sustainable success.
A well-known model describes resilience as a house that rests on seven pillars. Each individual pillar contributes to better coping with challenges in everyday working life:
Optimistic people expect things to work out and problems to be solved. They are convinced that challenges offer the opportunity to learn something. This skill can be learned, for example by keeping a success diary.
This ability is about not wasting your strength in battles against the unchangeable, but accepting the situation. This ability can be strengthened by consciously asking yourself "What can I really influence?" and then focusing on these aspects.
It is often helpful not to focus on the causes of a problem ("Who is to blame?"), but on the solution. Brainstorming techniques, for example, can be used for this.
This aspect describes one's confidence in one's own ability to shape things and bring about change. This can be learned by trying out new tasks and deliberately achieving minor successes.
Those who take responsibility for their own thoughts, actions and feelings do not remain in the role of victim, but become the architect of their own happiness. They do not take setbacks personally, but see them as phases of development.
Especially in challenging situations and in times of change, a person's personal network is enormously important for emotional security and support. Because challenges are easier to overcome together.
Future-oriented people develop visions and create prospects – ideally together with their team. It is often helpful to visualize these goals, be it with a drawing or an apt sentence.
A moment of panic due to stress or bad news? Pause for a moment and take a deep breath until you feel calmer again. Then write down three small things that you can influence positively.
End each working day with a review: What did I do well today? What am I looking forward to tomorrow? This way, you automatically focus on the positive. If you wish, you can also share positive thoughts with your team.
Something has gone wrong. You are extremely upset with yourself. Imagine if it had happened to someone else. Would you still find it just as tragic? And how upset will you still be in a year's time about what happened? If it won't matter then, then it's not so bad today.
A problem shared is a problem halved: Share challenges with a trusted person in your professional or personal environment. This person does not have to offer solutions – it often helps to be able to tell the story honestly.
A negative mood can often build up, especially in meetings. Be the person who resists and emphasizes the positive aspects of the new challenge – because there are almost always positive aspects.
Set yourself concrete goals for the future as a team or as an individual and measure them using milestones. If you have achieved one, this can and should be celebrated.
Are there technological challenges that affect the entire team, e.g. in connection with artificial intelligence? Support each other in turning these challenges into opportunities – e.g. in regular workshops.
Promoting resilience is an important part of advising corporate customers at Zurich – especially in the context of insurance for daily sickness benefits. We support companies in strengthening the health, motivation and performance of their employees in a targeted manner. A wide range of preventive measures are available for this purpose:
As an employer, Zurich also takes responsibility for the health and well-being of its employees. This includes specifically promoting resilience and creating a working environment that supports mental strength, self-care and the constructive handling of challenges. Employees benefit from various offers that strengthen and support them in their day-to-day work:
With professional support from
Head of Prevention & Health Consulting
As head of Prevention & Health Consulting in the Personal Insurance Benefits division at Zurich, she contributes her expertise in prevention and health consulting.
