"From BRATS, Manifesting, and Polarising to Enshittification: How Charli XCX and 2024’s Words Defined Us"
As I was preparing to write about further reflections for 2024, the recent wave of articles about the word of the year caught my attention. Every year, the “Words of the Year” lists give us a snapshot of where society is focused, or perhaps distracted. This year, we were gifted gems like "manifest" (Cambridge Dictionary) capturing TikTok’s obsession with visualization, "polarization" (Merriam,Webster) reminding us of societal divides, "enshittification" (Macquarie Dictionary) perfectly describing the decline of once, good things, and "brat" (Collins Dictionary), influenced by Charli XCX’s "brat summer," symbolising a playful yet confident attitude. But one word stood out—not because it won, but because it remains a constant in my conversations with both individual clients and companies: resilience.
Resilience wasn’t officially crowned as a Word of the Year—it was merely shortlisted by Cambridge Dictionary—but it lingers. It’s a word that hovers over discussions about wellbeing, leadership, and workplace dynamics. If I’m honest, I suspect some people are starting to grow tired of hearing it. Yet, the fact remains: resilience is as relevant as ever.
This article isn’t just about words of the year; it’s about why resilience remains a focal point in work and life. What does it really mean? Why does it dominate our conversations? And more importantly, are we doing enough to ensure it’s not just about surviving?
What Is Resilience?
Resilience is often described as the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. But it’s more than just bouncing back; it’s about adapting, learning, and moving forward in a way that fosters growth.
Adversity is a given—whether it’s workplace stress, personal challenges, or global uncertainties. Resilience equips us to navigate these obstacles with purpose, determination, and hope. But in conversations with individuals and teams, I often find that resilience is talked about as a personal trait when, in reality, it’s a shared effort between individuals and the environments they operate in.
Why Resilience Matters in the Workplace
In the workplace, resilience is more than a nice to have, it’s a strategic necessity. As businesses face economic uncertainty, rapid change, and shifting employee expectations, resilience directly impacts outcomes like productivity, retention, and innovation. The numbers make this clear:
Poor mental health costs UK businesses between £53 and £56 billion annually (Deloitte, 2022)
Wellbeing concerns are a leading reason for employee turnover, with 21% of people leaving roles due to burnout. (Gallup, 2021)
Greater workplace well-being is positively associated with increased profitability at the business-unit level. (Krekel, Ward, & De Neve, 2019)
Despite its importance, resilience is often misunderstood as simply enduring hardship. This ignores a key question: Why do we need so much resilience in the first place?
Are We Creating Resilient Cultures—or Just Demanding Resilience?
Organisations often focus on individuals’ resilience, framing it as a personal responsibility. While personal resilience is essential, this approach risks overlooking the systemic factors that create unnecessary stress and adversity in the first place.
Building resilience should not be about expecting employees to endure poor conditions but about fostering environments where resilience becomes a natural outcome. When resilience is built into the fabric of an organization, it shifts from being a survival mechanism to a foundation for thriving.
Resilience as a Shared Responsibility
Resilience isn’t solely the responsibility of organisations. For individuals, it’s about taking proactive steps to maintain wellbeing—prioritizing rest, building strong relationships, and fostering adaptability. For organisations, it means embedding resilience into their culture through:
Transparent communication and realistic goal, setting.
Leadership training to role, model and foster resilience.
Regular wellbeing assessments to identify and address challenges.
The outcome? A workforce that is not only resilient but engaged, innovative, and ready to tackle challenges head on.
Final Reflections: Building Resilience for 2025
As we head into 2025, resilience stands out not as a fleeting buzzword but as a cornerstone of workplaces and lives. The real challenge is ensuring resilience isn’t just about surviving adversity but about creating conditions that allow us to grow and succeed.
If this resonates with you or your organization, let’s continue the conversation. Visit www.anthonyomara.com or reach out directly.
And as for "enshittification"? Let’s make reducing it a priority—for our workplaces, our systems, and the world at large.