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Too many people are struggling. Let’s give them the human skills to thrive.

Women sat at desk with head in her hands from frustration.

It’s no secret that many of us are surviving work rather than thriving. We hear it from leaders, HR teams and employees alike, the pace is faster, expectations higher, boundaries thinner. And the data backs it up:

  • According to Deloitte UK’s latest “Mental Health and Employers” report, over 60% of employees have experienced at least one symptom of burnout, from exhaustion and cynicism to declining performance, up from 51% just a few years ago.
  • The CIPD’s 2025 Health and Wellbeing at Work survey found that stress remains a major cause of short and long-term absence.
  • According to Gallup, only 10% of UK workers report that they feel engaged in their roles — placing the UK among Europe’s least engaged workforces.

 

These figures paint a clear picture, the pace and pressure of modern work are taking a toll.

But the solution isn’t another perk or a one-off wellbeing week. What’s needed now is an investment in the foundational human skills that help people weather the storm, skills like emotional intelligence and resilience.

Why human skills matter more than ever

When the world of work keeps shifting with constant change, pressure and hybrid everything it’s no wonder people feel stretched. Most aren’t lacking strength, they’re lacking space, tools and support. Building emotional intelligence and resilience gives people what they need to navigate what’s around them, not just push through it.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to notice, understand and manage emotions, your own and others’. Research consistently links EI to better stress management, stronger teamwork and improved performance. People with higher EI also report higher resilience.

Resilience, in turn, isn’t about being tough or immune to stress, it’s about recovering, learning and moving forward. Studies show that resilient employees have 10–20% less productivity loss and lower absence rates. Together, EI and resilience form the human toolkit for thriving under pressure.

From surviving to thriving

Two teams. Two outcomes.

Imagine two teams facing the same challenge: tight deadlines, shifting priorities, hybrid schedules.

• In the first, people feel isolated, reactive and drained.
• In the second, people can pause, reflect, ask for help and respond with empathy.

Nothing external changed, but the internal resources did. That’s the difference emotional intelligence and resilience make, they turn pressure into performance.

Quick fixes don’t last

Many organisations still default to quick fixes like workshops, wellbeing apps and away days. These can help, but they often treat symptoms, not skills. True capability comes from ongoing, people-centred learning to give individuals the awareness, tools and practice to apply these skills day to day.

Three shifts that make the difference

1. Build self-awareness and regulation
EI begins with noticing our emotional triggers and choosing our response. When people can regulate emotions, pressure doesn’t become panic.

2. Strengthen resilience resources
Resilience grows through reflection, recovery and connection. Organisations can help by encouraging realistic workloads, supportive leadership and space to pause and reset.

3. Build stronger relationships
Thriving at work depends on the quality of our relationships. When people take time to understand each other’s perspectives, show empathy and communicate openly, trust grows, and so does collaboration.

The business case

Emotionally intelligent, resilient people don’t just feel better, they perform better. They handle change, solve problems creatively and sustain energy over time. Teams with these skills show higher engagement, lower turnover and stronger results.

In a world where technology automates tasks but not relationships, human skills are the ultimate competitive advantage.

From pressure to possibility

At Elevate People Academy, we believe that when your people are just surviving, your business is surviving.
When your people are thriving, your business can thrive.

That’s why we created Elevate — our core programme: a ten-module, coach-led learning journey grounded in Positive Psychology. It’s designed to build the emotional intelligence and resilience that help people struggle less and thrive more.

Because every organisation is different, we’ve adapted Elevate to suit different audiences and contexts:

  • ElevateExec – for senior leaders navigating complexity and change
  • ElevateLeader – for those leading teams day to day
  • ElevateTeam – for groups who need to strengthen trust, communication and collaboration
  • ElevateEveryone – for individuals who want to grow personally and professionally

 

All versions share the same human-centred foundation: practical tools, real conversations and lasting change.

Thriving isn’t one big leap. It’s lots of small, meaningful steps — one insight, one conversation, one shift at a time.

Your next step

If you’re ready to help your people struggle less and thrive more, let’s start that conversation. Together we can build the human skills that make work, and life, better for everyone.

👉 Get in touch: hello@elevatepeople.co.uk
Learn more at https://www.elevatepeople.co.uk