12/02/2025
At the “Live Without Limits” event, I was reminded of something crucial:
Resilience is built in the stretch.
Pushing beyond our comfort zones in one area, whether it’s tackling a difficult conversation, or (in my case) nearly face-planting in Pilates this morning, helps us realise we’re more capable than we think.
And that confidence transfers into other areas of life and work.
But here’s the challenge I see in workplaces today. Many employees aren’t stretching, they’re shrinking under pressure.
Stress, change, and setbacks aren’t met with adaptability, but avoidance, disengagement, or burnout.
Instead of stepping forward, they hold back. That's not because they lack resilience, but because they don’t feel supported in stretching beyond their comfort zone.
One insight from the event struck me:
Resilience isn’t just an individual trait, it’s a collective energy.
When my friend Donna Urquhart spoke about her world record run in Antarctica, she observed that sometimes the momentum of her team carried her through moments of self-doubt.
And I couldn’t help but think about teams in the workplace.
What if workplace culture functioned the same way?
Where employees felt supported to take risks, try new things, and navigate challenges? Not without fear, but with the confidence to move beyond it?
Where teams lifted each other up instead of feeling isolated in their struggles?
Where resilience wasn’t just expected but actively developed?
Leaders, if your team is struggling to bounce back from challenges, the solution lies in fostering a culture where resilience is modelled, encouraged, and embedded into the way people work.
If you’re seeing disengagement, low energy, or resistance to change, it’s a sign that your team may not feel safe to stretch beyond their comfort zone.
The good news? That can be changed.
How do you help your team reframe fear and build the confidence to take on new challenges?
