Rethinking Resilience at Work

In today’s fast-paced finance industry, resilience isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. At our recent Future Connect event, Recipes for Resilience, this theme was brought to life in a practical and engaging session delivered by executive and transformational coach, Chris Stephens.

Drawing on decades of experience in both financial services and high-performance coaching, Chris explored how professionals can better manage their energy, sustain performance under pressure and build habits that support long-term wellbeing. His session encouraged attendees to rethink traditional approaches to productivity shifting the focus from managing time to managing energy.

23 Apr 2026

Meet the Speaker: Chris Stephens

Chris built a 30-year career in the finance industry as a manager, coach and mentor before retraining as an Executive and Transformational Coach and an Endurance Sport Coach. He now works with individuals and teams to help them grow, find purpose and perform at their best. Motivated by a strong desire to help people realise their potential, Chris’s coaching approach is grounded in empathy, integrity and constructive challenge. By listening carefully and asking thoughtful questions, he encourages deeper reflection, resilience and self-belief, helping clients navigate challenges with greater clarity and confidence. His coaching style has been shaped by decades of leadership in finance alongside more than ten years coaching in a high-performance sporting environment. Chris has significant experience supporting individuals and teams to build empowerment, confidence and collaboration through a purposeful, values-driven approach.

Resilience isn’t something you suddenly find in difficult moments - it’s something you build every day through the habits, values and choices that shape how you show up.
Chris StephensExperienced Coach

Why Energy Matters More Than Time

We often treat time as our most valuable resource but energy is what determines how effectively we use it.

Research shows that energy operates across four interconnected dimensions:

Physical (body) – your health, sleep and stamina
Mental (mind) – your focus and cognitive capacity
Emotional (emotions) – your mood and interpersonal responses
Spiritual (spirit) – your sense of purpose and values

When one area is depleted, it impacts the others. The goal is not constant productivity but intentional energy management across all four areas.

Practical ways to recharge your energy

Physical energy

Prioritise quality sleep with a proper wind-down routine
Incorporate regular movement such as cardiovascular exercise
Eat regularly to maintain energy levels
Take short breaks every 90–120 minutes

Mental energy

Reduce distractions during high-focus work
Schedule time to check and respond to emails
Tackle your most important task early in the day

Emotional energy

Use breathing techniques to manage stress
Show appreciation to colleagues to build positive interactions
Reframe challenging situations by considering other perspectives

Spiritual energy

Spend time on activities that feel meaningful and fulfilling
Align your daily actions with your core values
Protect time for what matters most outside of work

Understanding pressure and performance

Pressure is unavoidable in finance but its impact isn’t always negative.

Performance tends to follow a curve:

Too little pressure

can lead to low motivation

Optimal pressure

can enhance focus and productivity

Too much pressure

can lead to stress, fatigue and burnout

The aim is not to eliminate pressure but to stay within your optimal performance zone.

Reflect on:

What are your main sources of pressure at work?
How do they affect your performance – positively or negatively?

Creating your own ‘recipe for resilience’

Resilience looks different for everyone. The most effective approach is to build your own “recipe”: a combination of habits, behaviours and support systems that work for you.

Start by asking yourself:

What are the key factors that help me stay resilient?

Which of these do I already have in place?

Where are the gaps?

Then focus on action:

What’s one quick win you can implement today?
What’s one change you can commit to this week?

Resilience isn’t built overnight, it’s developed through small, consistent actions.

Final thoughts

In a high-performance industry, it’s easy to prioritise output over wellbeing. But sustainable success depends on both.

By managing your energy, understanding your pressure triggers, and building your own resilience “recipe”, you can perform at your best without burning out.

Event photos

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton is a leading Channel Islands professional services practice. With a combined staffing strength of more than 300 people, we are the Channel Islands member of Grant Thornton International, one of the world’s leading international networks of accounting and consulting firms.