Thrive at work

We are living in a period of rapid change and uncertainty. The way we work and live continues to evolve, and the pace of change shows no sign of slowing down. We all want to thrive and be successful, so to respond to the current environment, we need to develop skills that allow us to be flexible, adaptable and resilient.

Research into leadership and workplace performance continues to highlight the importance of emotional resilience, adaptability and self-awareness in successful managers and leaders. One of these essential skills is the ability to look after yourself so that you can continue to grow and remain strong in fast-paced environments.

Why well-being matters

One of the keys to achieving this balance is to ensure that you look after both your physical and mental well-being. There is plenty of research around that proves that being well physically supports clear thinking capability and enhances your decision-making skills. Having good levels of energy and vitality makes you more able to deal with stressful situations. For companies, having employees with high vitality results in greater productivity and lower absenteeism rates.

There is no such thing as time management

Most people say they don't have sufficient time to exercise or eat properly; however, this is simply not true! The truth is that people prioritise other things over and above taking time to exercise, think about what they eat, or get some personal "quiet" time to just relax their mind and be calm for a short period each day. There is no such thing as time management; it is activity management!

The importance of meaningful work

A second point that helps us to remain strong and support our personal growth is that we need our jobs to be fulfilling and hold a promise of career progression.

There is a growing shift towards people wanting their work to feel more meaningful and aligned with their values, and many companies are responding to this. Career paths are becoming increasingly varied and flexible, with many people now choosing multiple careers, freelance work or portfolio careers throughout their working lives. Companies have to respond to this to retain their key talented employees!

Take personal accountability for your growth

It is not for companies to solve issues for us, though; we need to take personal accountability. We need to make our own jobs even more interesting than they are today. A way to do this is to focus on your own strengths (likely to be things you enjoy doing too!) and put yourself forward for tasks that capitalise on these strengths. Delegate the things you enjoy doing less. This is a way to build your career!

Everything starts and ends with the actions you take. You may have heard the story of the two frogs sitting on a log...one decides to jump off...how many frogs were left sitting on the log?...2!... as the one that decided to jump off didn't actually take any action and remained sitting there! Are you going to sit on the log?