Increasing Workforce Psychological Flexibility Using Acceptance and Commitment Training
A study investigating the effects of a brief ACT-informed training programme on an entire regional workforce (504 employees) of an innovation and manufacturing organisation participants found an increase in work-related psychological flexibility.
All employees were asked to attend a half-day training session to enhance psychological flexibility and related outcomes such as well-being and work effectiveness.
The key findings from this study were:
Employees attending ACT-informed training showed improved psychological flexibility.
Increased psychological flexibility was associated with improved stress resilience, reduced exhaustion, and increased personal accomplishment.
More exhausted employees gained well-being from increased psychological flexibility.
The less exhausted gained accomplishment from increased psychological flexibility.
Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) is an evidence-based approach for improving psychological flexibility that is, an individual’s ability to behave in a way that brings satisfaction, even when uncomfortable thoughts and emotions are showing up.
ACT focuses on improving psychological flexibility through 6 core processes:
6 Core Processes of ACT
Acceptance: Being open to experiencing unwanted internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings emotions, sensations, and urges.
Cognitive Defusion: Being able to notice and step back from thoughts and feelings without being consumed by them or needing to get relief from them.
Being Present: Being in the ‘here and now’ and less in the past or the future.
Self as Context: Being able to step back and notice your internal experiences without attachment to them.
Values: Knowing who and what is important to live the life you want to live.
Committed Action: Taking action to do what is important to live a fulfilling and satisfied life.
The core processes of ACT can be effectively provided through group workshops or coaching.
I have found that organisations providing ACT training have benefited from:
Enhanced Resilience
Improved Collaboration
Increased Innovation
Reduced Absenteeism
Higher Job Satisfaction
I have also found that individuals participating in ACT training or coaching have experienced improved performance levels, greater life satisfaction and a better ability to cope with stress and distressing situations.
If you are interested in discovering how ACT training programmes can improve the wellbeing of your workforce, please do get in touch.
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