Resilience is having a moment. And not just in the glossy wellness world — in boardrooms, team meetings and performance reviews. It’s being recognised for what it truly is: a core workplace skill, not a personal add-on.
But here’s the thing: resilience isn’t just about “toughing it out.” It’s about learning how to recover, reset and return with clarity. And that’s a skill businesses can — and should — teach.
Because pressure is part of the job
No matter the sector, every team encounters pressure. High workloads, constant change, challenging conversations — all part and parcel of modern work life. But while technical training equips people with the “what” and “how,” it rarely prepares them for the emotional and energetic demands of their roles.
Teaching resilience gives your people the tools to navigate pressure without burning out — and to bounce back faster when setbacks inevitably happen.
Because resilience improves performance
Resilience isn’t just a feel-good concept. It’s a performance multiplier.
Resilient people are more present. They listen better. They communicate more clearly. They’re more adaptable in the face of change and more capable of regulating their emotions under stress — all of which are key to effective teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.
It’s not soft skills. It’s success skills.
Because culture is built in moments of strain
Company culture isn’t tested when things are going well — it’s tested when they’re not.
Resilience training empowers teams to stay connected even when the pressure is on. That’s how you protect your culture from fraying in difficult times — and how you build trust that lasts.
Because we’ve lived it
For us at 1948, resilience isn’t just theoretical. During a life-changing period when our eldest daughter was seriously ill and undergoing treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, we learned what it really means to show up under pressure.
There were days when my husband and I had nothing left — emotionally, physically, or mentally — but we still had to keep going, work, make decisions, support each other and stay present for our family. It was resilience in its rawest form. And it remined us that resilience isn’t about pushing through at all costs. It is not an endurance test. It’s about pausing, resetting and returning stronger.
Because people need more than platitudes
“Be resilient” is a lovely poster. But it’s not a strategy.
What people need are practical, embodied tools that help them regulate their energy, recover from setbacks, and move forward with intention. That’s where actor-led approaches like ours come in — not because everyone needs to perform, but because the body is the best place to start when it comes to change.
You can’t think your way into resilience. You have to feel it. Practice it. Rehearse it.
At 1948, we run immersive, actor-led masterclasses that help teams do just that. Our Energy & Resilience workshop blends performance psychology with practical theatre-based techniques — so people leave with strategies they can use the very next day.
Whether you’re supporting frontline teams, developing future leaders or simply investing in a healthier, higher-performing culture — resilience isn’t a luxury. It’s a workplace essential.
And it can be taught.
If you’d like to find out about our masterclasses, get in contact here.
By Jacquie Coleman, co-founder and MD of 1948
