Even when you love your job, work stress can mount up and hamper your job satisfaction. Add in the uncertainty of possible layoffs or restructuring, and you could end up feeling more frazzled than blissful. However, it’s possible to find greater fulfillment and happiness — even amid challenges — when you learn to cultivate more resilience.
In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share some tips from Jason Shen, an executive coach, on how you can build more resiliency at work.
Accept the occasional chaos. Things at work will sometimes get messy. There may not be a clear solution or path forward. You can’t control everything at work, Shen says, but you can control your attitude, presence and dedication to your craft.
Make time for what makes you happy. Even when you’re swamped at work, you can carve out a few minutes for fun. Take five minutes to chat with a work buddy or text a funny meme to a coworker. These small actions can make a big difference in improving your happiness.
Connect to your personal values at work. Most people experience some mismatch with your employer’s values and your personal values, Shen says. So, he suggests looking for small ways to express your values at work. For example, if you value volunteering, host an office clothing drive or food drive.
Find your workplace community. Going to work is more enjoyable when you know you belong to a community. Shen says many companies offer employee resource groups or other semi-private support groups where you can find belonging with a smaller number of coworkers who may not be on your team. If you wish a specific group existed, think about creating one.
Write it out. When you’re in the middle of a stressful project or challenging situation at work, try writing about your experience. Shen says this can be tremendously healing. While you may not enjoy things in the moment, you may look back fondly on how the experience helped you grow.
Anyone can learn to become more resilient, which can, in turn, lead to more happiness and success. To work on growing your resilience this year, think about how you can apply some of the strategies above.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Jason Shen is an executive coach and a product leader at a technology company. He sends out the Cultivating Resilience newsletter every week to 1,700+ founders, investors and operators.