I feel the same way whenever I hear that I should be a ‘Team Player.’
Usually it’s from someone who wants me to ‘take a hit for the team.’ And typically in a context where I could have used the support an actual team would provide.
Oh god you're so right! 'Team Player' is never used in the context of "why don't you take the weight off and have some tea and toast", is it? Passive aggression at its finest...
Really enjoyed reading this, thanks! Resilience is thrown around so much in the medical world (my world), especially during postgraduate medical training. Most medical graduates are pretty resilient just for having completed medical school, yet “be more resilient” is regularly thrown at us as if we should be able to cope with just about any shitty work or training conditions or circumstances.
Over the years, I’ve come to think of resilience as something systems (e.g. places of work, training programmes) should have to support those that operate within it rather than something to be asked of individual employees or trainees. Individual resilience should die a very quick death
I totally agree - why should it be up to individuals to "be better" in a system that seems fundamentally... inhumane?! It's just an easy way of creating a 'weakness' that needs 'solving' rather than taking responsibility for anything. I love the idea of it being a systemic method of support. I'm sorry you've been in this position too... medicine is tough. You are a hero.
Whenever I use the word in a work context I put it in quotation marks: "I'm just not feeling very ReSiLiEnT today, boss." It's a company's way of putting a plaster on the opposite knee of the one that's been scraped. I think it's pretty much wholly unnecessary in corporate-employee relations.
I think it’s the all the time part that gets me. But also the attitude around asking, or even the requirement that employees be resilient for a given period of time, needs some visitation.
There absolutely ARE times when it’s required. Some things just don’t stop. Like parenting, in particular when it’s a newborn or an infant. And you do just have to grab another cup of coffee, and keep going.
But, it also needs to be handled with empathy. Most humans have more in them than they realize, and many of them come back from challenges, feeling stronger than before, as long as the experience isn’t allowed to become an actual trauma.
(Hard is NOT the same as traumatic, regardless of how histrionic you’re feeling. I get it, everyone has bad days.)
Sometimes the job just needs to get done, and after that, people deserve a break. And they deserve the hope that things WILL get better. But corporate belt-tightening, if it’s driven for profit, and not budget, isn’t the same thing.
If they need you to help them get over the hill, and will do their best to reward that effort, that’s a good time to be resilient. If they’re juicing you like an orange, that’s the time to have your résumé ready. Resilience can be a virtue. But virtuous employees are worth treating well.
Couldn't agree more, James. Resilience is appropriate for digging deep to find a way through a short-term tough patch. As you say, like parenting, or a period of financial uncertainty, or an unpleasant divorce. But as you say, you then need a break and a rest - it can't be a permanent state (which I think is what a lot of corporates are desperate for it to be). That's just endurance. Which actually also needs a break after!
I also agree that handling these periods correctly can be really positive in the long-run - when we get through things we didn't think we could it gives us confidence. Have you read any David Goggins by any chance? I wrote a piece on his thinking a while back that you might enjoy: https://anniescott.substack.com/p/the-goggins
There's definitely something to be learned from knowing we can do more than we think. But where's the line? I guess as you say, it's down to all of us to recognise when a company is just taking the piss!
I'd like the universe to tell me exactly when resilience is supposed to end!! It's been a never ending hamster wheel of "You must bounce back" since 2020. But there are no clear breaks between the events I need to bounce back from.
And they wonder why #VanLife is such a popular hashtag nowadays 😂
100% absolutely. Such a good reminder for when times are tough. In this modern definition of "resilience" I am effing exhausted. But when I think about how I'm still going and keeping on, I do actually feel resilient.
I feel the same way whenever I hear that I should be a ‘Team Player.’
Usually it’s from someone who wants me to ‘take a hit for the team.’ And typically in a context where I could have used the support an actual team would provide.
Oh god you're so right! 'Team Player' is never used in the context of "why don't you take the weight off and have some tea and toast", is it? Passive aggression at its finest...
Really enjoyed reading this, thanks! Resilience is thrown around so much in the medical world (my world), especially during postgraduate medical training. Most medical graduates are pretty resilient just for having completed medical school, yet “be more resilient” is regularly thrown at us as if we should be able to cope with just about any shitty work or training conditions or circumstances.
Over the years, I’ve come to think of resilience as something systems (e.g. places of work, training programmes) should have to support those that operate within it rather than something to be asked of individual employees or trainees. Individual resilience should die a very quick death
I totally agree - why should it be up to individuals to "be better" in a system that seems fundamentally... inhumane?! It's just an easy way of creating a 'weakness' that needs 'solving' rather than taking responsibility for anything. I love the idea of it being a systemic method of support. I'm sorry you've been in this position too... medicine is tough. You are a hero.
YES!!!!!!!
Whenever I use the word in a work context I put it in quotation marks: "I'm just not feeling very ReSiLiEnT today, boss." It's a company's way of putting a plaster on the opposite knee of the one that's been scraped. I think it's pretty much wholly unnecessary in corporate-employee relations.
Hahaha - I hope you use air quotes! Could not agree more. Sometimes it’s good to challenge ourselves but not ALL THE TIME!
I think it’s the all the time part that gets me. But also the attitude around asking, or even the requirement that employees be resilient for a given period of time, needs some visitation.
There absolutely ARE times when it’s required. Some things just don’t stop. Like parenting, in particular when it’s a newborn or an infant. And you do just have to grab another cup of coffee, and keep going.
But, it also needs to be handled with empathy. Most humans have more in them than they realize, and many of them come back from challenges, feeling stronger than before, as long as the experience isn’t allowed to become an actual trauma.
(Hard is NOT the same as traumatic, regardless of how histrionic you’re feeling. I get it, everyone has bad days.)
Sometimes the job just needs to get done, and after that, people deserve a break. And they deserve the hope that things WILL get better. But corporate belt-tightening, if it’s driven for profit, and not budget, isn’t the same thing.
If they need you to help them get over the hill, and will do their best to reward that effort, that’s a good time to be resilient. If they’re juicing you like an orange, that’s the time to have your résumé ready. Resilience can be a virtue. But virtuous employees are worth treating well.
Couldn't agree more, James. Resilience is appropriate for digging deep to find a way through a short-term tough patch. As you say, like parenting, or a period of financial uncertainty, or an unpleasant divorce. But as you say, you then need a break and a rest - it can't be a permanent state (which I think is what a lot of corporates are desperate for it to be). That's just endurance. Which actually also needs a break after!
I also agree that handling these periods correctly can be really positive in the long-run - when we get through things we didn't think we could it gives us confidence. Have you read any David Goggins by any chance? I wrote a piece on his thinking a while back that you might enjoy: https://anniescott.substack.com/p/the-goggins
There's definitely something to be learned from knowing we can do more than we think. But where's the line? I guess as you say, it's down to all of us to recognise when a company is just taking the piss!
The Goggins was a great piece, thanks!
Ah so much this! Thank you x
Right?? So glad it’s not just me…! x
Was literally told this week that perhaps I need to consider my 'resilience' levels when raising the issue that we are SO short staffed at work...
Oh god that makes me want to weep 🤦🏻♀️. What does that even mean?! Consider them?! You are NOT the problem!! xx
I'd like the universe to tell me exactly when resilience is supposed to end!! It's been a never ending hamster wheel of "You must bounce back" since 2020. But there are no clear breaks between the events I need to bounce back from.
And they wonder why #VanLife is such a popular hashtag nowadays 😂
Really loved this, thank you for writing it. 💕🙏
100% absolutely. Such a good reminder for when times are tough. In this modern definition of "resilience" I am effing exhausted. But when I think about how I'm still going and keeping on, I do actually feel resilient.