Components of Culture

When examining the idea of culture, one begins to see that it is a complex concept and may mean different things to different people. You may consider culture as your family, community, and heritage values and traditions. Culture can be deeply rooted in tradition, constantly changing and evolving to 'keep up with the times.' When it comes to cultural resilience, why do some cultures fade away while others remain? And what can be done (if anything) to ensure a culture's resilience in our ever-changing world? Let's start to explore the topic of cultural resilience by defining culture and cultural resilience, then look at some examples of cultures that have stood 'the test of time' despite multiple risk factors and threats to their survival, including Canada's Indigenous people. And finally, let's look at the resilience of immigrants and the experience of relocating to another country while still holding onto one's cultural heritage. What is culture? Culture is an umbrella term that encompasses the social behaviour and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Our culture gives us an identity and helps build our character. In addition to its intrinsic value, culture provides essential social and economic benefits. With improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together, culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall well-being for individuals and communities. Some scholars believe there are more than 3800 cultures worldwide, but this number is far higher. Components of Culture Below are the ten components of culture. Click on the cards to flip them for a short description of each item. Values - Beliefs, principles and important aspects of lifestyle Customs and Traditions - Holidays, clothing, greetings, typical rituals and activities Marriage and Family - Marriage and Family Type of marriage (i.e. arranged, free, same-sex, etc.) family size, patriarchal/matriarchal Government and Law - Type of government, leaders, how the system works Games and Leisure - Sports teams, games, TV, popular music, what people do in their free time Economy and Trade - Trading partners, imports, exports, workforce, main jobs Language - Language of the area, dialects Religion - Symbols, religions of the area, praying and worship, holy items Food - What people eat. How food is prepared. Tools people use to eat. Settings in which people eat Institutions - Education, government, religion, economy Cultural Resilience Many human cultures have come and gone, and others have survived; the longest-surviving cultures can be said to be resilient. Cultural resilience refers to a culture’s capacity to maintain and develop cultural identity and critical cultural knowledge and practices. Despite challenges and difficulties, a resilient culture can maintain and develop itself. A resilient culture engages with other challenges, such as natural disasters, man-made disasters, and encounters with different cultures and still manages to continue. Resilience Represented in Different Cultures Here are a few examples of how resilience is represented in three different cultures. Kintsugi In Japan, an art form called kintsukuroi means “to repair with gold." When a ceramic pot or bowl would break, the artisan would put the pieces together again using gold or silver lacquer to create something stronger and more beautiful than it was before. The breaking is not something to hide. It does not mean that the work of art is ruined or without value because it is different than what was planned. Kintsukuroi is a way of living that embraces every flaw and imperfection. Every crack is part of the object's history and becomes more beautiful precisely because it has been broken. Lotus Flower The Lotus flower is considered the epitome of resilience across many cultures. Buddhism states that just like the Lotus flower rises above murky waters, the human soul should rise above all the attachments and desires of the materialistic world to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Even though the flower's roots are in mud, it grows towards the light. This is a metaphor for the aspiration of the human to rise above in life towards oneness with the universe. Tabono Although the Tabono symbol is rooted in West African culture, its meaning and symbolism are universal and can be appreciated by anyone. As a symbol of unity, persistence, resilience, and hard work required to reach a common destination, it’s the perfect symbol for any group or team to achieve a goal together. Threats to Cultural Resilience Cultural resilience implies continuity and change: disturbances that can be absorbed are not an enemy to be avoided but a partner in the dance of cultural sustainability. The question then becomes how much cultural disruption is permissible before it has exhausted its capacity to absorb disturbance and thus loses its significance. Threats to culture may include natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, avalanches, fires, etc.), man-made disasters (hazardous material spills, explosions, chemical or biological attacks, nuclear blasts, train accidents, plane crashes, etc.), acts of war, destruction of religious and heritage sites and objects, development initiatives and globalization, tourism, displacement, climate change, systemic racism, loss of language, inequities in resources, and a host of other factors. Cultural Heritage Sites Cultural heritage sites are significant for people because of their historical, physical (i.e., technological, archaeological, architectural), and cultural values. They can also hold cultural and religious symbols, objects, and artifacts. These sites and monuments are at risk of destruction from natural disasters, man-made disasters, and deliberate destruction, e.g. in the context of armed conflicts. Cultural heritage must be considered an essential resource for fostering cultural resilience, reducing disaster risk, and supporting peace and reconciliation in the future. Here are a few examples of how these cultural heritage sites are protected and restored when disaster strikes. Resilient Cultures Resilient cultures can withstand threats, thrive, and adapt in the face of change and threat. Here are some examples of how different cultures have been able to do just that. Indigenous Peoples Indigenous peoples are the holders of unique languages, knowledge systems, and beliefs, and they possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have a special relationship with and use of their traditional land. Their ancestral land is fundamental to their collective physical and cultural survival. Indigenous peoples hold diverse development concepts based on traditional values, visions, needs, and priorities. It is estimated that there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. Indigenous Peoples Indigenous peoples are the holders of unique languages, knowledge systems, and beliefs, and they possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have a special relationship with and use of their traditional land. Their ancestral land is fundamental to their collective physical and cultural survival. Indigenous peoples hold diverse development concepts based on traditional values, visions, needs, and priorities. It is estimated that there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. In Africa Antarctica Asia Australia Europe North America South America Zealandia. Indigenous Peoples of Canada First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. These are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. Indigenous peoples of Canada have long, proud histories, including rich cultural and spiritual traditions. In the 2016 census by Statistics Canada, over 1.6 million people in Canada identified as Indigenous, making up 4.9 percent of the national population. Though severely threatened — and in some instances extinguished - by colonial forces, Indigenous culture, language, and social systems have shaped the development of Canada and continue to grow and thrive despite extreme adversity. Canada's Indigenous people and their culture are genuinely resilient. The Canadian Native Flag was designed by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Curtis Wilson Threats to Canada's Indigenous Culture Canadian Indigenous peoples have had, and continue to have, many threats to their people and culture, including such things as famine, violence, displacement, lack of resources, and longstanding and persistent disparities in socio-economic conditions. Key issues that today's Canada's Indigenous face are poorer physical and mental health, lower levels of education, inadequate housing and crowded living conditions, lower income levels, higher rates of unemployment, higher levels of incarceration, higher rates of suicide, and higher death rate among children and youth due to unintentional injuries. Systemic inequities have increased the risks to the Indigenous culture. Let's take a closer look at two examples of atrocities against the Indigenous Peoples of Canada that continue to cause intergenerational trauma. Residential Schools in Canada Christian churches and the Canadian government created residential schools as an attempt to both educate and convert Indigenous youth and to assimilate them into Canadian society. However, the schools disrupted lives and communities, causing long-term and intergenerational trauma among Indigenous peoples. In total, an estimated 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children attended residential schools, and an estimated 6,000 children died at residential schools (records are incomplete). Over 130 residential schools operated in Canada between 1831 and 1996. Since then, former students have demanded recognition and restitution, resulting in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in 2007 and a formal public apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2008. Residential Schools depicted by Hollywood Indian Horse is a 2017 Canadian drama film adaptation of the 2012 novel by author Richard Wagamese (Ojibwe) of the same name. Directed by Stephen S. Campanelli and written by Dennis Foon, it premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and received a general theatrical release in 2018. It can be found on various streaming services, including Netflix. It is a powerful and sad story. Please watch it if you can, or better yet, read the book by the same name. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada (MMIWG) Indigenous women and communities, women’s groups, and international organizations have long called for action on the high and disproportionate rates of violence and the appalling numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. The RCMP acknowledged in a 2014 report that there had been more than 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women between 1980 and 2012. Indigenous women’s groups, however, document the actual number of missing and murdered to be over 4,000. Statistics Canada reported in 2004 that Indigenous women 15 years and older were 3.5 times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women. Violence against Indigenous women and girls is not only more frequent but also more severe. Between 1997 and 2000, the homicide rate for Indigenous women was nearly seven times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous women. On May 5, people across North America hang red dresses in private and public spaces to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and in solidarity with family members and loved ones. The Move to Reconciliation In Canada, reconciliation refers to efforts made to address the harms caused by various policies and programs of colonization, such as residential schools. Individual and institutional efforts can lead to meaningful dialogue and efforts to improve the relationship between Indigenous people and Canada and to continue to right historical wrongs in a manner that brings Indigenous people respect for their full rights and appropriate accompanying treatment. We must walk together towards a future where Indigenous human rights, including self-determination, languages, cultures, traditions, and laws, are recognized, valued, respected, and celebrated. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's mandate was to inform all Canadians about what happened in residential schools. The TRC documented the truth of Survivors, their families, communities, and anyone personally affected by the residential school experience. In 2015, the TRC Commission made its Final Report along with 94 'Calls to Action' urging all levels of government — federal, provincial, territorial, and aboriginal — to work together to change policies and programs in a concerted effort to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation. Indigenous Cultural Resilience Let's examine some examples of how Canada's Indigenous people hold onto their sacred traditions and educate others about their culture through social media and other innovative and creative platforms. Indigenous Actor makes her mark in Hollywood In January 2024, Lily Gladstone won a Golden Globe for her role in "Killers of the Flower Moon," a story about the murders of the Osage people over their oil-rich lands in Oklahoma. This made her the first Indigenous woman to win a best-actress Golden Globe. Here is her acceptance speech for the historic win. What is a Community? A community is people with common interests living in a particular area. Why are communities so important? Strong communities are critical because they're often essential for social connection and belonging. Participating in a community bonded by attitudes, values, and goals is crucial to a fulfilling life. Community Resilience Community resilience is the sustained ability of communities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity not just based on its merits alone but also from the support of more prominent sociocultural factors. The Community Resilience Framework A community’s resilience also increases with more adaptive capacity and decreases when it is more vulnerable and less able to manage change and endure stress. A community relies on its systems to be solid and flexible, evolve and adapt when necessary, and be sufficiently agile to take advantage of opportunities. When an individual system operates with spare capacity, can rebound quickly and re-establish its functions to avoid long-term disruptions, and encourages constant learning to allow new solutions as conditions change, the whole system benefits. The resilience of a community is not static. Adaptive capacity changes over time in response to changes in the community and its level of vulnerability. As each community is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. A community needs to have a clear vision for how it wants to increase its resilience and set a roadmap for how it can get there. The Community Resilience Framework Systems The Resilient Community Framework asserts that there are five primary systems upon which each community functions, regardless of size. Each system contributes to the overall resilience or vulnerability of the community. When an individual system is robust, it creates capital for the community. When an individual system is weak, it makes the community vulnerable. The Community Resilience Framework encourages a “systems” view where each system is part of a larger system that works together. A Healthy Environment Protects and restores the natural resource base upon which life depends. Seeks to reduce climate impacts through adaptation and mitigation efforts and increase resource efficiencies. Responsible Governance Provides community services Enforces laws humanely Protects its community members Manages its finances and meets its budgets under changing conditions. Strong Economy Produces necessary resources Has a diversified economy Has access to financial and physical resources Maintains the value of its currency A Prepared System Risk reduction activities are planned and funded. Networks and partnerships exist to provide support in times of need Community members are educated on how to be more prepared Organizations within the community are recognized for their resilience initiatives High Quality of Life Access to education & information Access to affordable housing & quality healthcare The existence of social freedoms Access to employment and prosperity. Six Foundations for Community Resilience Efforts to build community resilience often focus on growing capacity to “bounce back” from disruptions, but truly robust community resilience should do more than 'bounce back,' it should 'bounce forward.' It should engage and benefit all community members and consider their challenges. It should be grounded in resilience science, which tells us how complex systems— like human communities—can adapt and persist through changing circumstances. Community resilience is an ongoing process, not a fixed goal. Six foundations that support the building of community resilience have been identified and are outlined below. People – Community members have the power to envision the community's future and build its resilience. Systems thinking – Systems thinking is essential for understanding the complex, interrelated crises and what they mean for our similarly complex communities. Adaptability – A community that adapts to change is resilient. However, adaptation is an ongoing process because communities and their challenges are dynamic. Transformability – Some challenges are so significant that the community can’t adapt; fundamental, transformative changes may be necessary. Sustainability – Community resilience is not sustainable if it serves only us and only now; it needs to work for other communities, future generations, and the ecosystems on which we all depend. Courage – As individuals and a community, we need the courage to confront challenging issues and take responsibility for our collective future. Community Resilience after Tragedy Nova Scotia Mass Shooting Late in the evening on Saturday, 18 April 2020, a 51-year-old man assaulted his common-law wife in Portapique, Nova Scotia. He then began a 13-hour rampage in which he committed multiple shootings and set fire to several homes in 16 locations. Using a vehicle disguised as an RCMP police cruiser and wearing an old RCMP uniform for much of the time, the killer murdered 22 people and injured six others. He was shot and killed by two RCMP officers at a gas station south of Enfield, Nova Scotia, 100 km from where the violence began. It is the worst mass killing in modern Canadian history. Afzaal's Family was killed while going for a walk. On June 6, 2021, a man rammed a pickup truck into Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada. Four people were killed, and another was wounded; all were from the same family. Police say the attack was motivated by Islamophobia. The attack was the deadliest mass killing in London's history. It was condemned by Canadian leaders and called terrorism by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford. The suspect is charged with four counts of terroristic murder and one count of terroristic attempted murder. The Immigrant Experience Relocating to a new country can be a difficult and disorienting experience. Immigrants often find themselves in a strange new world where the rules have changed, the surroundings are unfamiliar, and the people speak a different language than their own. Let's look at immigration in Canada and the resilience of immigrants necessary to 'make it' in their new homes. Canadian Immigrants In its simplest terms, an immigrant is defined as a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country. According to Statistics Canada, an immigrant refers to a person who is, or who has ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident. Such a person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Immigrants who have obtained Canadian citizenship by naturalization are included in this group. The Canadian Multiculturalism Policy of 1971 was intended to preserve the cultural freedom of all individuals and provide recognition of the cultural contributions of diverse ethnic groups to Canadian society. Currently, annual immigration in Canada amounts to around 300,000 new immigrants – one of the highest rates per population of any country in the world. As of 2020, there were just above eight million immigrants with permanent residence living in Canada - roughly 21.5 percent of the total Canadian population. The Resilience of Immigrants In general, various personal traits (self-esteem, motivation, optimism, intellect, coping skills, and competence) and many collective resources (community pride, ethnic networks, cultural practices, spiritual and faith-based networks) are recognized as protective factors that strengthen immigrants' capacity to overcome challenges. Let's look at a few personal stories of strength and resilience from individuals describing their experiences as an immigrant. Immigration in Film The Oscar-winning film Minari, a semi-autobiographical film by Lee Isaac Chung, tells the story of a South Korean family relocating to rural Arkansas. It conveys that "the deepest truths of immigration are found, not in statistics or abstractions, but in the countless small stories of individuals and families fighting to find a new place to call home." Minari had six nominations and one win (Best-Supporting Actress, Yuh-Jung Youn, making her the first Korean to win an Academy Award for acting) at the 2021 Academy Awards. This film is available right now on Amazon Prime if you would like to watch the movie in its entirety. It is a beautiful story of a family's resilience. Key Takeaways • Culture encompasses the social behaviour and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Cultural resilience refers to a culture’s capacity to maintain and develop cultural identity and critical cultural knowledge and practices despite threats such as man-made and natural disasters. • Indigenous peoples are the holders of unique languages, knowledge systems, and beliefs and possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have a particular relation to and use of their traditional land. Canada's indigenous people have suffered many atrocities, such as residential schools and the high and disproportionate rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made its final report along with 94 'Calls to Action' to begin working towards reconciliation in Canada. • Community resilience is the sustained ability of communities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity not just based on its individual merits alone but also from the support of larger sociocultural factors. A community’s resilience also increases with more adaptive capacity and decreases when it is more vulnerable and less able to manage change and endure stress. The Resilient Community Framework asserts that there are five primary systems upon which each community functions, regardless of size. After a tragedy, resilient communities can come together, support one another, and adapt to survive. • An immigrant is defined as a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country, but relocating to a new country can be a difficult and disorienting experience. Currently, immigrants amount to roughly 21.5 percent of the total Canadian population. The story of the immigrant experience is one of strength, resilience, and hope. 七転び八起き Nana korobi, ya oki (Fall down seven times, get up eight.) - Japanese proverb Organizations can be thought of as businesses, institutions, or associations. Why do some exist only briefly while others have stood the test of time? We will look at some long-standing organizations and the traits that have contributed to their resilience. We will also examine resilience at university and in the workplace and, finally, explore the topic of resilient leadership. What Is An Organization? An organization is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose. The word is derived from the Greek word organon, which means tool or instrument, musical instrument, and organ. Organizational Resilience Organizational resilience is an organization's ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions to survive and prosper. Traits of Resilient Organizations Much research has been done to determine what factors contribute to resilient organizations. Five traits help support organizational resilience: being prepared, adaptable, collaborative, trustworthy, and responsible. Let's look at each one in more depth. Prepared – Foresight is 20/20. It’s not enough to respond to a crisis in progress. You must prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Organizations must identify emerging threats and understand their impact on all aspects of the organization, its workers, and their broader community. Organizations must spend time identifying any threats and brainstorming scenarios and risks that the organization could be confronted with. Adaptable – To succeed in this environment, organizations need people who are agile, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to move and change on a dime. Change is the one constant, so organizations must be able to pivot and 'keep up with the times' when needed. Flexibility is key. Collaborative – When your organization can freely and easily share information and perspectives, you can quickly assess situations and make good decisions that incorporate input and communication from throughout your organization. In a crisis, an organization that silos its knowledge rather than spreads information is more challenged in addressing disruption. Trustworthy – With the public’s confidence diminished in the ability of government, media, business, and other institutions to behave responsibly and ethically, having the trust of your employees, your partners, your customers, and your peers is a valuable differentiator. For your organization, building trust means leading with empathy in three key areas: Physical trust: ensuring the safety of employees, volunteers, partners, and customers. Emotional trust: accounting for your employee's/volunteers' wellness and mental health. Digital trust: ethically safeguarding employee, volunteer, and customer data from cybercrime and other threats. Responsible – Organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and rooting out people and processes inhibiting that commitment also lead to resilience—perhaps due to having a broad range of perspectives supporting innovative thinking and agile acting. Authenticity also contributes to resilience. Among survey respondents who said their organizations cultivate resilient cultures, 82% say their organizations have a reputation for valuing employees; 79% say they’ve demonstrated transparency with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues; and 78% say they have a reputation for helping the community. Non-Profit Organizations A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or social benefit, in contrast with an entity that serves as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners. An array of organizations are nonprofit, including some political organizations, schools, business associations, churches, social clubs, and consumer cooperatives. Let's look at four long-standing non-profit organizations in Canada and their resilience. The Salvation Army The Salvation Army began its work in London, England 1865 when William Booth, a minister, abandoned the conventional concept of a church and a pulpit. He took his message of hope to people suffering from poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and need. By 1867, The Salvation Army had developed into a ministry offering primary schooling, reading rooms, penny banks, soup kitchens, and relief aid to people in need. The Salvation Army began its work in Canada in 1882, just fifteen years after the Confederation, and quickly began giving hope to those in need in this country. Today, The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada and 132 countries. Canadian Red Cross The Canadian Red Cross was established in the fall of 1896 as an affiliate of the British Red Cross Society (then known as the National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War). George Ryerson, who had founded Canada's St. John Ambulance Association in 1895, spearheaded the organization's founding. The Canadian Red Cross Society Act (1909) legally established the Red Cross as the corporate body in Canada responsible for providing volunteer aid by the Geneva Conventions. The Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian and charitable organization and one of 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The organization receives funding from both private donations and from Canadian government departments. Scouts Canada Scouting came to Canada in early 1908 with three troops established almost simultaneously in Merrickville and St Catharines, ON, and Port Morien, NS. In 1912, the Boy Scout Association was granted a royal charter throughout the Commonwealth by King George V. Scouts Canada's stated mission is "to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their communities." In 1972, Scouts Canada began accepting female members. Scouts Canada currently has over 100,000 members from every faith and culture. The organization is supported by the efforts of 25,000 volunteers, with programming offered in more than 19 languages. Girl Guides of Canada It all began in 1909 when girls in England demanded to participate in a Boy Scouts rally organized by Lord Baden-Powell at the Crystal Palace in London. Baden-Powell was impressed and asked his sister, Agnes, to create a program just for girls. This was the beginning of Guiding. By 1910, the Guiding Movement had reached Canada and the first Unit was formed in St. Catharine's, Ontario. By 1912, there were units in every province, and many of Canada's most forward-thinking women banded together to form the Canadian Girl Guides Association with a mission 'to be a catalyst for girls empowering girls.' Girl Guides of Canada is the largest organization for girls and women in Canada, with almost 135,000 Members: 108,000 girls and 26,000 adults. Resilience Factors Resilient companies that are prepared for the future show these similarities: • a positive attitude towards change, which they see as an opportunity • an open mind regarding new technologies which can be used to respond to a number of challenges • active future planning to adapt to new ways of working • strategies that are documented, specific, funded, evaluated, and detailed • regular monitoring to understand new trends within their business sector • adaptability and ability to react rapidly to new trends or challenges and being faster to market than the competition Resilient Companies What does it mean to be a resilient business? Organizational resilience is a term used in business management to describe companies that face particular difficulties and must re-invent part or all of their business strategy to survive. We can usefully define resilience as a company's capacity to absorb stress, recover critical functionality, and thrive in altered circumstances. Resilience is crucial today because the business environment is becoming more dynamic and unpredictable. Let's look at some of the world's longest-standing companies and the paths they took to ensure their ongoing success. Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company is a retail business group with a long-standing history in Canada. A fur trading business for much of its existence, HBC now owns and operates retail stores in Canada and the United States. In 2006, an American businessman, Jerry Zucker, bought HBC for $1.1 billion US. Today, its net worth is over $5 billion US dollars. The Lego Story LEGO is a plastic building block toy that became popular in the mid-20th century. LEGO blocks originated in Billund, Denmark, in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, who began making wooden toys in 1932. Two years later, he named his company LEGO after the Danish phrase leg godt (“play well”). Lego's revenue in 2020 was 43.7 billion dollars. Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd. Kongō Gumi, the long-established Japanese construction company, was the world's oldest continuously ongoing independent company and is currently the oldest company overall, operating for over 1,400 years. In January 2006, after falling on difficult times, it became a subsidiary of the Takamatsu Construction Group. The Teikoku Databank and Tokyo Shoko Research acknowledge Kongō Gumi as the Japanese company with the longest history. What is Academic Resilience Academic resilience means students achieve good educational outcomes despite adversity (dealing with challenges, stress, or pressure), ultimately leading to overall academic success. It also refers to the capacity to succeed academically despite prevailing social, organizational, and societal barriers. Challenges to Academic Resilience There are several challenges to academic resilience in university. These things can include student mental health, academic challenges, financial strain, and the unique challenges of being an international student. Let's look at some of these factors, starting with student mental health challenges. Student Mental Health According to a national survey of colleges and universities in 2021, one-fifth of Canadian postsecondary students are depressed, anxious, or battling other mental health issues. Compared to three years ago, the survey also found that an increased number of students are reporting being in distress. Not only can mental health concerns negatively impact one’s well-being, but they can also significantly hinder one’s education. Depression was found to be a significant predictor of a lower GPA and a higher probability of dropping out of school. Situations That Can Affect Mental Health Some situations can trigger and affect your mental health. To some, they may seem like a regular occurrence that happens to everyone. To others, the mental strain associated with the event can be overwhelming and affect your studies and overall well-being. Be aware of these stressors and think about how they have or could affect your mental health. Relationship breakups Academic pressures Poor grades Feeling marginalized, misunderstood, or like you don’t fit in Concern or worry about your family members at home Loss of day-to-day family or community support Drug and alcohol use Financial stress Social status pressures Feeling alone or homesick Inadequate sleep Feeling overwhelmed Grief Gender and sexuality questioning Friendship challenges Sports team losses Unmet expectations Student Stress University can be a stressful experience, as well as being fun and exciting. You may feel stressed about starting university, exams, coursework deadlines, living with people you do not get along with, or thinking about the future. There are lots of possible signs of stress. Stress can make you feel: irritable anxious like you cannot enjoy yourself worried a lot of the time You may start to: have sleep problems find it hard to concentrate bite your nails, pick your skin or grind your teeth snap at people feel short of breath or breathe very fast Common Causes of Student Stress Different things cause stress in different people. Some of the things students commonly cite as causes of stress include: examinations deadlines returning to study the pressure of combining paid work and study difficulty in organizing work poor time management leaving assignments to the last minute out of control debts poor housing overcrowding noise adjusting to life in a new environment or even country difficulties with personal relationships (e.g. splitting up) balancing the demands of a family with studying parents or problems at home Stress often results from an accumulation of many different pressures which build up gradually without us noticing. Managing Student Stress Although stress in university is inevitable, there are some things that you can do to manage your stress better and improve your overall well-being. Let's look at these things individually. As you read these suggestions, think about how you can incorporate them into your daily life. Look after Yourself – Be kind to yourself. Give yourself “me time” to choose what you want to do. Rest. Do nothing. Try a relaxation technique, massage or yoga. Have a long hot bath. Spend time with friends. Treat yourself to something special. Taking proper breaks and eating well helps combat stress. Confront The Problem – Try to stand back and look at the problem carefully. Break it down into manageable parts. Talk it through with someone else, brainstorm solutions, or get help if you need it. Try to manage your time effectively and learn to say “No.” Avoidance will not make the problem disappear and can often worsen it. Leaving everything to the last minute is a significant source of stress to students. Think about why you are finding it hard to get started – uncertainty about how to do the assignment, fear of being judged, or fear of failing. Creating a piece of work effectively reduces stress levels as it frees your mind, putting the thoughts of failure back into perspective. If you have had a row or a misunderstanding with someone, it rarely helps to avoid the issue. Talking it through with the other person or someone outside the situation often enables you to express your feelings, regain a sense of proportion, and identify a way of resolving the differences. Find Some Distraction – Sport and physical activity help you relax physically and release endorphins in the body, which produce a natural feeling of well-being. Walk, cycle, swim, join the sports centre, or join a sports team. Joining a club or society, maintaining an existing hobby, learning something new, or talking to others can all help you take a mental and physical break. Express Yourself – Talk about it, write about it, shout about it, or vent about it. Expressing your feelings can help to relieve stress. Acknowledging a problem to yourself and others can be the first step in dealing with it. Sometimes, having a good cry can release emotional pressure and calm your anxiety. Student Loneliness A shared experience on campus is for students to feel lonely or isolated, even though thousands of other students are here daily. Loneliness is a feeling that no one enjoys, and if it occurs often enough, it can impact our life satisfaction and mood; for many students who are struggling with depression, isolation and loneliness can be significant contributing factors. We all have a strong biological need to feel a sense of connection with others, and when this need is not met, feelings of loneliness are our mind’s and body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Remember, no one is exempt from feeling lonely at times. Common Causes of Student Loneliness Several circumstances can increase the likelihood of feeling isolated on campus. These include: Being a first-year student Moving out of your parent's home for the first time Living alone, rather than with roommates or in residence Coming to university as an international student Being very shy/socially anxious Having huge formal classes Being a graduate student and working only on your thesis or dissertation Never had a lot of friendships in the past Feeling unsure how to initiate a connection Having a history of failed relationships/friendships Holding unrealistic expectations regarding friendships or intimate connections Believing that everyone already has enough friends Managing Student Loneliness Although feeling lonely and isolated can be a very painful experience, these feelings, in turn, can motivate us to pursue the connection we need and want. Some of the following strategies can move you in a positive direction. As you read each suggestion, think about how you might incorporate them into your everyday life., especially if you feel lonely. Engage In Life Activities – Leading a busy and active life is the best way to meet people. This can include any number of activities like sports, hobbies, clubs, volunteering, nightlife, and work, to mention a few. We can, however, engage in these activities and still not meet people if we don’t make some effort to talk to others. You may need to step outside of your comfort zone to make this connection. Shared activities you enjoy can give you an everyday basis for this connection. Also, when we have an active life, we don’t feel so lonely, even if we cannot meet anyone new. Develop Your Communication Skills – In forming connections with others, we rely a lot on our communication skills, which, unfortunately, can be something we can develop with practice. Use any opportunity to practice your communication skills rather than avoid interactions because you are unsure of what to say or afraid to say the wrong thing. There are also opportunities to build your skills by taking workshops, seminars, or groups that can better teach you some of these skills. Use daily activities like going to a store, waiting in a line-up, taking a bus, sitting on a bench, or visiting a museum/art gallery to learn to chat with strangers. Most people are receptive to this, and you can practice it to practice your communication skills rather than avoid interactions because you are unsure of what to say in any social situation. Don’t Wait For Other People To Initiate Contact – Overcoming isolation requires you to initiate contact with people since putting this in other people’s hands leaves you very powerless. Too often, people feel tired of trying and giving up, feeling it is up to others to make the effort. Unfortunately, this thinking doesn’t make sense, nor will it get you what you want and need. Initiating connections can mean dealing with potential feelings of rejection, but not starting runs even less chance of getting what you want. Realize the more often you try, the higher the probability of success. Learn The Art Of The Smile – Smiling is underrated as a way to increase your connection with others. There is nothing like a big smile to invite others into our personal space and lives. Non-verbal communication is a compelling way to engage others and say to others that you will be open to them and they are unlikely to be rejected by you. Meeting people in the morning with a smile tells them I am happy to talk to you and enjoy your presence. Practice Good Eye Contact – As important as the smile is good eye contact. Eye contact also allows us to focus on the nonverbal cues the other person is sending out to us, and research says these cues are more powerful than the verbal messages we communicate. As the saying goes, “The eyes are the window of the soul.” So, if we avoid eye contact (as many shy people do), we can’t feel the deep intimacy we all want. Use Some Judicious Self-Disclosure – Finding a genuine connection with others means you must learn to open up to others and disclose personal information about your true feelings, interests, beliefs, goals, dreams, experiences, etc. This is hard because many people are fearful that they will say too much, and people may reveal this information to others. This is a risk, but the alternative severely limits how close we can get to others since only honesty and openness will give us meaningful connections. The best way to reduce the risk of getting hurt is to slowly and judiciously increase self-disclosure as we build trust in the other person. You could still get hurt, but the odds of this are much reduced. Strive For Personal Happiness – Why is personal happiness important to alleviating feelings of isolation? Because if we are happy, we tend to attract people since others are likelier to share our joy. People will rarely be drawn to others who are moody, unfriendly, or unhappy. This, however, doesn’t mean we have to be happy all of the time since no one is, and this wouldn't be very real. Also, when we are personally satisfied, we are much less likely to feel lonely since we have many things that are a positive focus of our attention. People become part of our happiness but are just one of many potential aspects of it. Remember That Loneliness Is In Part A State Of Mind – We can be with a dozen people and feel very alone or be alone and feel blissful solitude; it is all a matter of perspective. Our beliefs about ourselves, our world, our connections and our expectations all influence how much loneliness we experience. Take some time to analyze your beliefs and expectations and see how they might contribute to your sense of isolation. Are your expectations unrealistic, or are your feelings more about dissatisfaction with yourself? Many negative feelings are generated by irrational or unhelpful beliefs, which must be challenged. Academic Challenges It is pretty common for students to experience academic challenges at some point during college or throughout their college career. These challenges may involve: Poor study habits Difficulty grasping course material Test anxiety that leads to poor performance on exams Procrastination on assignments Difficulty planning and organizing to complete assignments or study tasks Inconsistent class attendance Academic probation or loss of scholarship Academic Challenge Factors Academic challenges at university may be due to various factors, including: Increased rigour of workload of college classes Poor concentration or ADHD, which can interfere with learning and studying as well as with organizational tasks Increased difficulty of coursework over time Having a learning disorder that makes it challenging to study, organize, and understand the course material Having a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, that reduces motivation and concentration Perfectionistic thinking that leads to procrastination Having a learning style that is inconsistent with the format of course instruction (e.g. the lectures are stated aloud without visual aids, but you are a visual learner) Academic Accommodations Academic accommodation means any adaptation that reduces or eliminates participation barriers that arise when a student with a disability interacts with the educational environment. Let's look at the two significant types of student accommodations. Classroom and Assignment Accommodations Here are some examples of the most commonly provided academic accommodations for university students for their classrooms and assignments: the need for effective peer note-takers from the class the need for the student to tape-record lectures the need for additional time to complete in-class assignments the need for feedback and assistance in planning the workflow of assignments the need for assistance through proofreading written work Examination Accommodations Here are some examples of the most commonly provided academic accommodations for university students for their examinations: the need for extended exam time, typically time and one-half to double time the need to take exams in a room with reduced distractions the need for a reader, scribe, or word processor for exams the need for the option of an oral exam to need spelling and grammar assistive devices for essay exams the need to use a calculator for exams the need to use scrap paper during exams International Students' Experience Canada attracts students from all over the world. Entering university or college life is exciting, but it also comes with many unique challenges. International students have the usual struggles of university life but also have additional and exaggerated difficulties that can make university incredibly difficult. According to The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities study, here are the top four challenges for international students: Feeling alienated Adjusting to living and studying in a new country can be difficult logistically, but the social aspect of not having a nearby support system can add to feelings of alienation. Dealing with finances: For many international students, this is their first time living away from home. On top of managing a school workload in another country, they have to work their money, and international student school fees are significantly higher than those of other students. Integrating family: If students come to study in Canada as a family with their spouse, one person is entitled to a study permit, and the other is entitled to a work permit. Unfortunately, the person holding the work permit can remain socially excluded from the local community until they have landed a job. Accessing the labour market: According to a Canadian Bureau of International Education study, 51% of international students plan to apply for permanent residence in Canada after graduation. This new study tells us many international students feel the labour market requires more work to gain access to the workforce. Building Student Resilience Developing and strengthening psychological resilience remains a significant challenge for many of us. This is especially true for those in high-pressure environments such as post-secondary studies. For example, building resilience in university students has never been more critical coping with busy class schedules, endless extracurriculars, financial worries, balancing school and work, and an entirely new environment can be tricky. With a thorough understanding of resilience and how it can be reinforced, university students can navigate these stressors more efficiently and improve their physical and mental health and overall well-being. Let's look at ways you can build, maintain, and improve your academic resilience in university. Identify negative thought patterns: Catching these thoughts and questioning their validity helps to nip these patterns in the bud, allowing you to form new, likely more accurate, and optimistic interpretations of reality. Pinpoint sources of stress: Identifying your sources of stress and how you react to these stressors is vital to developing resilience. Once you know where your stress comes from and the unhealthy reactions or behaviours that it provokes in you, you can work on improving your coping strategies. Manage your physical health: Failing proper nutrition, not getting enough sleep, and neglecting hygiene are all classic hallmarks of college life. Improving your self-care is a simple yet vital part of cultivating resilience. Develop and strengthen positive relationships: Support from those close to you helps even the most significant challenges feel more manageable. Although college students often live and learn nearby, becoming isolated and disconnected from others is easy. Set and work towards concrete goals: Without clear goals, you might find yourself feeling lost. Pursuing tangible, reasonable goals will give you a sense of purpose. As you inch closer to the finish line, your progress will further motivate you to move forward while increasing your self-worth. Workplace Adversity Workplace adversity can be defined as any negative phenomenon or event experienced at work or related to work that makes it difficult for workers to perform and retain their jobs and to feel comfortable, satisfied, and happy in their lives. Let's look at workplace challenges, such as employee stress and bullying, and how to build individual and team resilience. Workplace Stress Workplace stress, then, is the harmful physical and emotional responses that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands. In general, the combination of high demands in a job and low control over the situation can lead to stress. Stress in the workplace can have many origins or come from one single event. • 47% of working Canadians agree that their work is the most stressful part of their day • 27% of Canadian workers claim to have high to extreme levels of stress on a daily basis • Canadian employees report workplace stress as a primary cause for mental health concerns Workplace stress is the physical and emotional response that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on an individual and the amount of control an individual has over meeting these demands. In general, the combination of high demands in a job and low control over the situation can lead to stress. Stress can manifest in various ways; we might even mistake it for physical health ailments. Identifying stress and knowing how to respond to it is critical in helping manage it. Causes of Workplace Stress There is no one cause of stress in the workplace. Every worker is an individual with their professional and personal lives, and different factors may influence their reactions to conditions in the workplace. However, some factors within workplace control have been shown to influence feelings of stress in the workplace. Some examples include: Task Design workload (overload and underload) pace/variety/meaningfulness of work adequate time to complete a task autonomy (e.g., the ability to make your own decisions about your job or about specific tasks) shiftwork/hours of work skills/abilities do not match job demands lack of training and preparation (technical and social) lack of appreciation isolation at the workplace (emotional or working alone) Role in the organization role conflict (conflicting job demands, too many roles, multiple supervisors/managers) uncertain job expectations/role ambiguity (lack of clarity about responsibilities, expectations, etc.) level of responsibility Career development under/over-promotion job security/insecurity (fear of redundancy either from the economy or a lack of tasks or work to do) lack of career development opportunities, growth, or advancement overall job satisfaction Relationships at work (Interpersonal) supervisors (conflicts or lack of support) coworkers (conflicts or lack of support) the threat of violence, harassment, etc. (threats to personal safety) lack of trust lack of systems in the workplace available to report and deal with unacceptable behaviour prejudice or discrimination Organizational structure/ climate/ management style participation (or non-participation) in decision-making communication patterns (poor communication/information flow) little recognition for good job performance lack of systems in the workplace available to respond to concerns not engaging employees when undergoing organizational change lack of perceived fairness (who gets what, when, and the processes through which decisions are made). Feelings of unfairness magnify the effects of perceived stress on health lack of support (such as family-friendly policies, employee assistance programs, etc.) Work-Life Balance role/responsibility conflicts family exposed to work-related hazards Workplace Conditions/ Concerns exposure to unpleasant conditions (e.g., crowding, smells, etc.) exposure to hazards (e.g., ergonomics, chemicals, noise, air quality, temperature, etc.) Effects of Workplace Stress The effects of workplace stress may include changes in your body, mood, or behaviour. These effects may also affect the quality of your work, which may cause more stress and lead to a vicious cycle of stress and underperformance. Learning to identify these changes may help you better manage your workplace stress. Body Fatigue Headaches or stomach aches Muscle tension or pain Sleep problems Mood Changes in appetite Feeling overwhelmed Loss of motivation Quick to anger or irritable Behaviour Angry outbursts Social withdrawal Decreased physical activity Increased use of substances (tobacco, alcohol, etc.) Workplace Bullying • 3 in 10 Canadians say their workplaces are not psychologically safe and healthy, and nearly half report having experienced one or more acts of workplace harassment at least once a week for the last six months. • A shocking 55% of surveyed Canadians reported experiencing bullying in the workplace, including name-calling, physical aggression, and online taunts, according to a 2018 poll. • Employees coping with toxic work environments take twice as much sick time. (Mental Health Commission of Canada). • Statistics Canada estimates the cost of employee absence due to bullying and harassment is roughly $19 billion per year. In Canada, occupational health and safety laws include the concept of due diligence. Due diligence means that employers shall take all reasonable precautions, under particular circumstances, to prevent injuries or incidents in the workplace. Every person should be able to work in a safe and healthy workplace. The legislation in your jurisdiction will describe the roles and responsibilities of workplace parties concerning workplace harassment and violence, including developing and implementing policies and programs. Definitions of harassment and violence often formally include bullying but can be implied if not. Examples of Workplace Bullying While bullying is a form of aggression, its actions can be both obvious and subtle. It is important to note that the following is not a checklist, nor does it mention all forms of bullying. There is no way to predict who may be the bully or the target. Also, remember that bullying is usually considered a pattern of behaviour, and one or more incidents will help show that bullying is taking place. Still, it may be one incident, especially one that has a lasting effect. Examples include: Spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo Excluding or isolating someone socially Intimidating a person Undermining or deliberately impeding a person's work Physically abusing or threatening abuse Removing areas of responsibility without cause Constantly changing work guidelines Establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information Making jokes that are 'offensive' by spoken word or e-mail Intruding on a person's privacy by pestering, spying or stalking Assigning unreasonable duties or workloads unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates unnecessary pressure) Underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness Yelling or using profanity Criticizing a person persistently or constantly Belittling a person's opinions Unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment Blocking applications for training, leave or promotion Tampering with a person's personal belongings or work equipment Effects of Workplace Bullying People who are the targets of bullying may experience a range of effects. These reactions may include: Shock Anger Feelings of frustration and helplessness Increased sense of vulnerability Loss of confidence Physical symptoms such as: Inability to sleep Loss of appetite Psychosomatic symptoms such as: Stomach pains Headaches Panic or anxiety, especially about going to work Family tension and stress Inability to concentrate Low morale and productivity Workplace Resilience Resilience at work is now recognized as a defining characteristic of employees who cope well with the stresses and strains of the modern workplace. Resilient people can better deal with the demands placed upon them, especially where those demands might require them to deal with constantly changing priorities and a heavy workload. Coping well with workplace pressure, adversity, and uncertainty relies on developing resilience in behaviours, thoughts, and actions. What Resilience at Work Looks Like Being resilient at work means that you can: Manage the inevitable everyday stress of work while staying healthy; Rebound and learn from unexpected setbacks; and Proactively prepare for future challenges that you’re likely to face. Relationship to self Confidence Optimistic Self-awareness Patience Relationship to others Appreciative Helpfulness Accepting Collaborative and empathetic Relationship to the environment Goal-oriented Growth mindset Purposefulness Perseverance 9 Ways to Build Resilience at Work Research has shown that you can take nine simple steps to improve workplace resilience for yourself and your coworkers. Let's look at each separately. Cherish social support and interaction – Good relationships with family, friends, and others are vital. Being active in the broader community also helps. 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 significantly impacts how stressful we find them. Celebrate your successes – Take time at the end of each day to review what went well and congratulate yourself. This trains the mind to look for success rather than dwelling on negativity and ‘failure.’ Develop realistic life goals for guidance and a sense of purpose – Do something each day to move towards them. Again, small is beautiful; 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. Practice optimism – Nothing is either wholly good or bad. If we allow our thinking to dictate how we view something, it will take over. Make your thinking work for your benefit, rather than letting it hinder you with doubt or by seeing only the wrong side. Keep a realistic perspective – Place challenging or painful events in the broader context of lifelong personal development. Resilient Leadership Resilient leaders can sustain their energy level under pressure, cope with disruptive changes, and adapt. They bounce back from setbacks and overcome significant difficulties without engaging in dysfunctional behaviour or harming others. Resilient leaders also support their employees and take the steps necessary to foster their team's resilience. Impact Your Team's Resilience Research has shown that managers can take nine simple steps to foster workplace resilience in their employees and support them to be a healthier and happier team. Clarity of purpose – Communicating the purpose and objectives of the team and providing role clarity is the foundation upon which resilience is built. Nurture trust – Trust is an essential aspect of workplace resilience. When trust is present, staff feel safe to bring forward ideas and concerns. Understand workload – Start the conversation around workload by setting clear priorities and helping team members stay on track. Encourage autonomy – When staff members have autonomy, they develop greater confidence in their abilities, resourcefulness and, ultimately, connection to the workplace. Encourage team cohesion – Team cohesion is working effectively together, united to achieve a common goal. Promote health and wellbeing – Resiliency flourishes when individuals are mentally, physically, and socially healthy. Model resilience – As a leader, the ability to maintain a positive attitude, look at setbacks as opportunities and stay calm amid periods of stress, change, and turbulence. Key Takeaways • Organizational resilience is an organization's ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions to survive and prosper. Five traits help support organizational resilience: being organized, adaptable, collaborative, trustworthy, and responsible. Resilient companies that are ready for the future show these similarities: a positive attitude toward change, which they see as an opportunity; an open mind regarding new technologies, which can be used to respond to several challenges; active future planning to adapt to new ways of working; strategies that are documented, specific, funded, evaluated, and detailed; regular monitoring to understand recent trends within their business sector; adaptability and ability to react rapidly to new trends or challenges and being faster to market than the competition. • Academic resilience means students achieve good educational outcomes despite adversity, ultimately leading to overall academic success. It also refers to the capacity to succeed academically despite prevailing social, organizational, and societal barriers. University presents with many challenges, stress being the most common. Another common experience on campus is for students to feel lonely or isolated. International students have the usual struggles of university life but also have additional and exaggerated challenges that can make university incredibly difficult. Developing and strengthening academic resilience is vital in post-secondary institutions. • Workplace adversity can be defined as any negative phenomenon or event experienced at work or related to work that makes it difficult for workers to perform and retain their jobs and to feel comfortable, satisfied, and happy in their lives. Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional responses that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands. Being resilient at work means that you can manage the inevitable, everyday stress of work while staying healthy, rebound and learn from unexpected setbacks, and proactively prepare for future challenges that you’re likely to face. As a leader, you can foster resilience in your team by promoting clarity of purpose and trust, understanding workload, encouraging autonomy, encouraging team cohesion, promoting health and well-being, and modelling resilience. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. - Winston S. Churchill