coaching a workforce for greater resilience.

The idea of “normal” no longer exists. The pandemic set off a domino effect of challenges and changes impacting every aspect of life. Now, economic uncertainty, political unrest, and accelerated technological change are magnifying the feeling most everyone shares—we are no longer on solid ground.

Yet, according to McKinsey, fewer than 30% of executives feel confident they’re prepared to address the changes ahead, and two-thirds believe they’re entering the most challenging moment of their careers. If leaders are this overwhelmed, how does the wider workforce feel? 

At a time when the only constant seems to be change, workforce resilience is a top priority for organizations. 

But what exactly is resilience? It’s the ability to bounce back from difficulties and move forward in the face of adversity. It takes inner resolve, mental fortitude, and an optimistic attitude. A resilient workforce can adapt to change with flexibility and efficiency—and address new situations head on. 

why resilience matters

To meet today’s challenges, employers need employees that are energized, excited to contribute, and ready to roll with the punches. But, the fact is, workers at all levels are mentally and emotionally exhausted. 

So, resilience becomes a vital tool in maintaining employee engagement through times of change and uncertainty. It also helps employees improve their mental and physical health, while creating a positive worklife.

One way for organizations to bolster resilience is to invest in career coaching for employees and leaders. Those that do this may be better positioned to succeed one, five, or 10 years down the line. And it’s important to remember that a workforce is made up of individuals, each with different work experiences and different support needs. 

workforce resilience: how coaching gets you there

Worklife coaching can have a significant impact when it comes to increasing resilience. Just as every great sports team has a great coach to help individual players build skills to achieve  collective success, coaches play similar roles in the working world. 

An experienced coach can recognize the subtle ways that resilience can benefit each worker and design an individualized plan to help them overcome roadblocks. For example, one employee may be having a communication issue with a manager that’s causing project delays.  Another may be having a hard time concentrating in the midst of a recent reorganization. Yet, another may be experiencing anxiety in response to returning to in-person work. 

Each situation highlights a different resilience-related challenge. And each requires a unique solution. An experienced worklife coach can drill down to identify underlying issues and provide strategies to overcome them through techniques such as checklists, daily tasks, affirmations, and breathing exercises. Coaches will also hold employees accountable in reaching their goals. 

It’s important to note that worklife coaching is offered as democratized coaching, unlike  traditional coaching  which is typically provided only  to employees labeled as high-potential or future leaders. Democratized coaching is open to all within an organization and uses third-party external coaches directed by employees themselves. 

The more control an employee has over their destiny, the more seen, heard, and understood an employee will feel. So, it’s no surprise that in our 2022 worklife coaching report, we found that 88% of workers worldwide would be interested in learning and development opportunities if their employer offered it, and 84% of people would be interested in speaking to a professional career coach if offered the chance.

Employees are ready. The key lies in realizing that resilience isn’t a one-time achievement. It’s not something to be attained once, and then be done with. It’s a daily practice, for employees, leaders, and organizations as a whole. 

prepare today for greater resilience tomorrow

Moving forward, the ability to create a resilient workforce will be what separates those who merely survive turbulent times from those who thrive in them. That is why innovative businesses and leaders are deploying democratized coaching for all, to help employees build an enduring resilience and adaptability against what the future may hold.

The way the workforce relates to work and career has permanently shifted. It's clear that, moving forward, employees will perform better and feel better when they are motivated and equipped to be proactive rather than reactive. 

It’s also clear that a resilient workforce provides great business benefits for an organization.  Resiliency is the foundation upon which future success will be built.