2020 has left us changed. How we do business in 2021 on an individual, team, and organizational level will never return to “normal” pre-COVID conditions. In some ways that is a good thing. However, the issue of well-being and employee mental-health will continue to challenge organizational leaders.

With the world changing at lightning speed, faster than we've ever been taught to deal with, technological, environmental, and social disruption are affecting every part of our lives...every business, every industry, every society...even what it means to be “human.”

These changes show no signs of slowing down; in fact, they’re accelerating, rapidly. At a time when the world is in a dizzying transformation, we have to be agile. We must build resilience. Resilience isn't just the key to your survival. It's a critical source of your competitive advantage.

It’s critical that leaders focus on strengthening employee resilience - especially mental and emotional resilience. How do you support employees that are working remote, often in isolated conditions, challenged by uncertainty and grief, and still maintain their performance?

I’m not alone in predicting that the biggest challenges in business going forward will be mental health and employee well-being. According to, ‘Five Workplace Trends to Watch in 2021,” published in Deloitte, “Workers told us that the top three objectives of work transformation should be improving quality, increasing innovation, and improving worker well-being…

But, improving well-being was the second-to-last outcome identified by executives... executives who deprioritize well-being as a goal of work transformation are missing a huge opportunity.” An opportunity that, if executed well, will not only boost the quality of life for employees but the quality of work as well.
If workers are feeling the pressures of the new business environment, struggling to establish boundaries between work and home, and often challenged by the need to pivot, what can HR leaders do to assure they strengthen employees and achieve desired business outcomes?

What skills and tools do you need to provide your team to:

- Accomplish their goals?
- Stay healthy and balanced?
- Contribute at the highest level?
- Get up every morning with a ROAR of purpose and passion?
- Feel deeply fulfilled?

I have been working with several clients determined to answer just that. They are embracing the need to strengthen their employees’ resilience and give them the tools they need to stay focused, balanced, and healthy.

Practicing habits that lead to resilience requires a systematic approach to daily habits that over time build long-term success. Leader’s cannot simply say, let’s be resilient today, think BIG and take BOLD action and expect their teams will perform without routine guidance and encouragement.

In order to support teams, we have developed tools like the Resilience Daily Planner, 21 -day Resilience Challenge, and recently we launched the ROAR Community - an online forum where leaders gather to gain the skills and ongoing support they need to be more resilient and lead effectively.

Bottom line, going into 2021, employee well-being and mental-health will be the biggest challenges. They will not be overcome without significant support on an individual, team, and organizational level. The key is providing tools and opportunities for every employee to be more resilient at work and at home.