What is the resilience monitor like and how do I analyze the results?

A resilience measurement was recently conducted in your organization. The measurement instrument used was based on the Mason’s Resilience Model. Employees were presented with a variety of statements and asked to what extent they recognize them on a scale of: always, often, sometimes, rarely, never. These experiences were then translated into a rating (always = 10 to never = 1).

An average was then calculated across all questions: the average resilience score. The aim, of course, is that employees 'often' to 'always' recognize themselves in the statements. So the desired score is somewhere between a 7.8 and 10 where the higher, the more resilient so the better. Take a look at the average resilience score. Is the aspiration of at least a 7.8 being achieved? Is the score worrisome or is it in very good shape? In addition, we distinguish three zones:

Furthermore, it is good to put the average resilience score in perspective. For example, all first look at the average for the entire organization. Is this the same, higher or lower? In addition, it is also good to look outside the organization. And if this measurement has been done before, be sure to look at the development over time. Has the score increased, decreased or remained the same?

The Five Elements of Resilience

To understand areas for improvement and how the resilience score is constructed, we need to examine the five key elements of resilience. These elements are: the degree to which you experience meaning in life, the presence of positive emotions and social support, your ability to cope with adversity, and your physical condition. Let's explore these elements in detail.

Meaning in Life

Do you find meaning in your life and work? Are you living with a sense of mission? Do you take your desires and dreams seriously? Do you set goals at work? Employees who find a lot of meaning in life are generally more resilient than those who do not. Meaningfulness is influenced by a combination of faith, motivation, beliefs, values, and a sense of usefulness. Organizations can enhance meaning by fostering a transparent culture, promoting clear values, and working towards common goals.

During recruitment and selection, ensure that there is alignment between the organization's values and those of the candidate. Additionally, consider the core values of your organization and whether they match those of your employees.

Positive Emotions

How often do you feel upbeat versus down? Do you tend to see life through rose-colored glasses? Are your thoughts primarily positive, or do you lean towards negative thinking? How is the atmosphere within your organization? Do your colleagues focus on opportunities or problems? Having positive emotions is crucial for resilience.

Creating a more resilient organization involves fostering positive emotions, which can be challenging because our thoughts often lean towards negativity. Historically, focusing on negative stimuli increased our chances of survival, leading to what is known as the negativity bias. Despite our modern environment, our brains still exhibit this bias. However, awareness of this can help shift focus from the negative to the positive.

Surrounding yourself with cheerful colleagues can improve your mood. Therefore, cultivating a positive workplace atmosphere is vital. Encourage joy and fun, set a positive example, and let your own happiness be contagious.

Social Support

Do you have a reliable social network around you? Can you turn to someone when things aren't going well? Do you experience a sense of friendship at work? Are your colleagues supportive? Social support is a fundamental need, and employees with strong social networks are generally more resilient.

It’s important to have people around who can help with challenges, offer support, and motivate you. Encourage friendships by creating opportunities for employees to connect in informal settings, such as cozy lunch areas, team outings, and social events. Visiting colleagues in person rather than just sending emails can also foster better relationships. Contrary to concerns that friendships might reduce productivity, having friends at work often leads to better communication and more efficient collaboration.

Dealing with Adversity

How do you handle setbacks? Do you give up easily or view challenges as opportunities to grow? What strategies do you use when facing difficulties? Your approach to adversity often reflects whether you have a fixed or growth mindset.

Those with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities and believe that effort and learning from mistakes are key to growth. They are more likely to stay calm during crises and embrace new challenges. In contrast, a fixed mindset tends to view obstacles as insurmountable and mistakes as failures.

Cultivating a culture that embraces mistakes as learning opportunities is essential. Lead by example, be open about your own mistakes, and focus on learning and improvement rather than assigning blame.

Physical Condition

How is your health? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you eat a balanced diet? Are you exercising regularly? Physical condition is the final element of resilience. Being in good physical health helps you handle stress and adapt to changes more effectively.

Organizations can support employee health by promoting awareness about healthy lifestyles and encouraging healthy choices. Leading by example and embodying a healthy lifestyle yourself can be highly effective. Remember, demonstrating exemplary behavior is one of the most powerful tools an executive has.

Benchmark

When you start looking at the survey results, the question is bound to come up "is this normal? It makes sense. That 7 you see, for example, may sound neat, but is it really? Therefore, you want to put your results in perspective. In other words, you want some comparison material. The advice here is always: don't go comparing apples to oranges.

It is always best to compare your results with the results of previous measurements or to compare one department within the organization with another. This tells the real story. Sometimes this just doesn't work and we understand that. Then it is still useful to compare yourself with another piece of fruit.

Note: do not attach too much value to it. It is always a case of apples and oranges. Rather, we advise you to put your scores in the right zone. Below you can see the results of working in the Netherlands. We also give you some insight into the various industries. We present to you the entire fruit bowl, it is up to you to pick out what applies to you.

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Want to know more?
Then download the report on resilience in the Netherlands here.