Electronic Communication

One of the areas that has been identified as an overly stressful item is the volume of electronic communication that seems to require our reply at all times of the day and night. In an effort to lessen this burden, iTHRIV is committed to a new communication guideline that respects personal time away from work.

Effective May 22, 2023

• When sending emails where a response or action is needed, team members are encouraged to highlight the timeframe in the email (preferably in the Subject line: example - REPLY REQUESTED BY xxx date or ACTION NEEDED by THURSDAY).

• iTHRIV will strive to minimize electronic communication sent outside of normal work hours (Monday – Friday)

• iTHRIV has NO expectation for team members to reply to electronic communications outside of  normal work hours

• iTHRIV encourages use of timed email delivery methods for individuals who may be working outside of normal business hours.

• To promote larger culture change, iTHRIV team members who do work after customary business hours are encouraged to adopt a phrase to their email signature similar to this one: “Please note that I do not expect a response after 5pm or on weekends. I recognize the need for rest and boundaries. Thank you for taking care of yourself.”

 

Additional Recommendations for Boosting Personal Resilience *

• Cherish social support and interaction. Good relationships with family and friends and others are vital. Being active in the wider community also helps.

• Be authentic. Take a look at your own values, develop your strengths and your own emotional intelligence. And follow those values to do the work that matters most.

• Work with your colleagues. Seek feedback and advice to help you develop as a person, and offer your support to others to foster their growth.

• Stay healthy. Prioritize some type of physical activity daily. Take a look at your diet and look for opportunities to improve.

• Treat problems as a learning process. Develop the habit of using challenges as opportunities to acquire or master skills and build achievement.

• Avoid making a drama out of a crisis. Stress and change are part of life. How we interpret and respond to events has a big impact of how stressful we find them.

• Celebrate successes. Take time at the end of each day to review what went well and congratulate yourself and your colleagues. This trains the mind to look for success rather than dwelling on negativity and ‘failure’.

• Develop realistic goals for short term and long term (both for work and life). Do something each day to move towards them. One small step amid the chaos of a busy day will help.

• Take positive action. Doing something in the face of adversity brings a sense of control, even if it doesn’t remove the difficulty.

• Nurture a positive view of yourself. Developing confidence in your ability to solve problems and trusting your instincts helps to build resiliency.

• Keep a realistic perspective. Take a look at what is within your sphere of control and do not allow things outside of that sphere to overtake your perspective.

• Practice optimism. Nothing is either wholly good or bad. Make a choice to see the good!
   

*Personal resilience strategies adapted from: Resilience at work, why it is important and how to develop it (barrywinbolt.com)