Before You Tell Employees to Be More Resilient, Ask This
Burnout is not always caused by weak coping. Learn why leaders must address workload, management and workplace systems alongside employee resilience.
Resilience is useful.
But it should not become the answer to every workplace problem.
Before telling employees to become more resilient, ask:
“What are we asking them to be resilient against?”
If the answer includes temporary pressure, difficult customers or normal workplace demands, resilience skills may help.
But what if the answer is:
Unreasonable workload.
Chronic understaffing.
Conflicting expectations.
Persistent workplace conflict.
Poor management.
Constant organizational disruption.
Then the organization has work to do too.
The WHO recommends organizational interventions alongside manager and worker-level approaches to workplace mental health. World Health Organization
Employees have responsibilities.
Organizations do too.
Strong workplaces do not choose between employee support and performance.
They create conditions that make both possible.