Gallery Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 7th IPPA World Congress 2021

The Resilient Organization: Beyond Surviving to Thriving (#231)

Robin Litster Johnson 1 2 3
  1. Master of Applied Positive Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
  2. MBA, Organizational Behavior, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
  3. Work and Organizations, Spirituality and Meaning, Health, Education, International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), Apple Valley , MN, United States of America

In the best of times, organizations need resilience to successfully meet various socioeconomic challenges. In the midst and in the aftermath of a pandemic, organizational resilience is imperative. Resilient organizations have at their root resilient individuals. Resilience is learnable and can be developed individually and organizationally. Its foundations, skills, and protective factors are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.

By adding positive emotions, which are found within principles of resilience, to organizational processes and structures, organizations can increase their creativity, flexibility and adaptability in finding solutions to unexpected hardships. The least competent individual within an organization has a brain more powerful and complex than the world’s largest computer. By tapping into that power and complexity through the broadening and building power of positive emotions, organizations can overcome obstacles, navigate adversity, and bounce back from challenges.

In addition, utilizing a strengths-based approach to organizational change enables organizations to proactively reach out and successfully grow even in times of extreme duress. Having a profound sense of shared meaning at every level of the organization helps to fuel and sustain these positive changes over time.

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  • Keywords: Business and Organizations, Leadership/Management, Meaning and Purpose, Positive emotions, Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth