As universities, MAT’s and some colleges adapt and aim to survive financial changes, departmental or organisational restructuring and mergers are common. Restructuring is a paradox- it seems to take a long while and yet deadlines can feel rushed and urgent. And it takes energy to respond to, but you may be experiencing feeling low energy, as a result of stress. Sometimes you need strength and agility for a short-term sprint, and other times it often feels like a marathon! I’ve been there – and in my experience what is required is being sustainably resilient.

Sustainable resilience is underpinned by many things, but especially by the values that keep you going and help you navigate your way — despite the obstacles. Some employers are supportive during restructuring, demonstrating humane values despite the uncertainty. One employer we worked with offered regular workshops, to support staff to apply for roles internally and career development workshops, as well as some one to one coaching.

Strong personal values are powerful sources of resilience, individually or collectively, when it feels like your employer is not there for you as much as you might need. Values can act as drivers and can be very practical — ‘I value paying my bills and not getting into debt. I need to take this action or adopt that mindset right now’. Or values can indicate work preferences — ‘I value working in small teams — I really enjoy it. So I’ll look for a role with a smaller team’.

Having strong values at work can:

• motivate you
• help you find energy to keep going
• help you find the courage to persist
• support you to make decisions at this critical time
• and help you reconnect with your willpower.

Let’s say you value ‘collaboration’: you might make the most of any workplace networks, unions or communities as you re-apply for your role or fill in applications. 

Strong values can also mean you remain flexible, without losing your way in the long game of working life. For example, if one of your values is ‘wellbeing’, you might say, ‘I’ll go for that part-time role even though it’s more travel, as that particular role may give me the chance of more wellbeing overall’.

So in these turbulent times, as you negotiate your way forward with a restructuring or merger at your educational organisation, become aware of what matters to you — your deep values — and use them to help you be sustainably resilient.

Photo by Deepak Gupta on Unsplash