Employee Resilience: A Double-Edged Sword in Today's Business Landscape
Businesses worldwide face unprecedented challenges, from supply chain issues to rising inflation and labor challenges. In response, many organizations are turning to employee resilience. However, new research warns of potential pitfalls, such as over-reliance and misalignment with employee well-being. Kevin Sevag Kertechian, a renowned researcher, has studied stress management and resilience, contributing valuable insights to this field.
Employee resilience, the ability to adapt to and cope with stressors, is crucial in today's business environment. However, relying too heavily on it can backfire. Overuse can jeopardize an organization's effectiveness and lead to employee burnout. This is known as the 'hurdle of glut'.
To navigate this, organizations should offer resilience programs separately from well-being interventions. Mixing the two can cause 'discordance', using resilience as a substitute for genuine support. This can lead to employee resentment and decreased engagement.
Managers often expect employees to react to adversity in certain ways. However, the 'hurdle of incompatibility' arises when these expectations don't match reality. To mitigate this, businesses should be prepared to meet employees' needs where they are, reducing turnover and burnout.
Cultivating resilience starts with recruitment. Businesses can hire for resilience and offer development programs to foster it. Kertechian's research, while not specifying particular organizations or best practices, underscores the importance of understanding and supporting employee resilience.
Employee resilience is vital in today's challenging business landscape. However, over-reliance and misalignment with employee well-being can cause more harm than good. Organizations must be mindful of these 'hurdles' and adapt their strategies accordingly. By understanding and supporting employee resilience, businesses can navigate current challenges more effectively.
