The Importance of Hardiness in the World of Work

Oct 13, 2025 by ludoplayers7.com 61 views

Introduction

In the fast-paced and competitive world of e-commerce, employees are constantly faced with stress and pressure to perform. However, not all employees are equally resilient in the face of these challenges. Hardiness, a concept first introduced by Maddi (2013), refers to the psychological resilience that helps individuals deal with stress and adversity. This study aims to explore the hardiness of e-commerce company employees in Medan City, Indonesia, and its implications for employee performance and organizational health.

Hardiness Description of E-commerce Company Employees in Medan City

Employee hardiness in e-commerce companies in Medan is the focus of this research. Hardiness refers to psychological resilience that helps individuals in dealing with stress, and can be analyzed through three main aspects: commitment, control, and challenges. In this study, descriptive quantitative methods and measuring devices were used in the form of hardiness scales adopted from Maddi theory (2013). Data was collected from 109 employees working in e-commerce companies in Medan, with the selection of samples using sampling quota techniques based on the nonprobability accidental sampling approach in accordance with the method described by Sugiyono (2012).

The results of data processing using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0 show that the average score of employee hardiness, both overall and based on demographic characteristics, shows positive results. This study found that more than half of employees had a high hardiness score or were above average. These findings suggest that e-commerce company employees in Medan City possess a high level of psychological resilience, which can help them deal with the challenges of the e-commerce industry.

The Importance of Hardiness in the World of Work

Hardiness plays an important role in the context of work, especially in the e-commerce industry known as a high level of competition and often unexpected workload. Employees who have good psychological endurance will be better able to face the pressure and challenges that arise. For example, a strong commitment to work will increase motivation and performance, while control over the work environment can reduce anxiety and increase efficiency.

In the e-commerce industry, hardiness is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, e-commerce companies operate in a highly competitive market, where employees are constantly under pressure to meet sales targets and customer demands. Secondly, the e-commerce industry is characterized by rapid changes in technology and consumer behavior, which can create uncertainty and stress for employees. Finally, e-commerce companies often have to deal with high levels of customer complaints and returns, which can be emotionally draining for employees.

Analysis Based on Three Hardiness Aspects

Commitment: Employees who show high commitment tend to be more involved in their work and feel that the tasks they do have meaning. This not only contributes to individual job satisfaction, but also increases the overall productivity of the company.
Control: The control aspect reflects the extent to which employees feel able to control the situation at work. When employees feel they have control over their work, they tend to face stress better and find ways to overcome existing problems.
Challenges: Employees who see challenges as an opportunity to learn and develop show greater resilience in difficult situations. With this mindset, they not only overcome problems, but also look for innovative ways to improve the work process.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that hardiness is an important factor that can affect employee performance in e-commerce companies in the city of Medan. With more than half of employees showing a high level of hardiness, companies can take steps to continue to support and develop aspects of this resilience through training and development. Understanding and increasing employee hardiness will not only help individuals in dealing with stress, but will also contribute to the overall health of the organization. Thus, attention to employee hardiness must be an integral part of human resource management strategies in e-commerce companies.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Develop a hardiness training program: E-commerce companies should develop a training program that focuses on building employee hardiness. This program should include modules on commitment, control, and challenges, as well as strategies for managing stress and adversity.
Provide opportunities for employee development: E-commerce companies should provide opportunities for employee development, such as training, mentorship, and career advancement. This will help employees feel more committed to their work and more in control of their situation.
Encourage a growth mindset: E-commerce companies should encourage a growth mindset among employees, where challenges are seen as opportunities for learning and development. This will help employees develop a more resilient mindset and better cope with stress and adversity.

Q: What is hardiness, and why is it important in the e-commerce industry?

A: Hardiness refers to the psychological resilience that helps individuals deal with stress and adversity. In the e-commerce industry, hardiness is crucial because employees are constantly under pressure to meet sales targets, customer demands, and rapid changes in technology and consumer behavior.

Q: What are the three main aspects of hardiness?

A: The three main aspects of hardiness are:

Commitment: Employees who show high commitment tend to be more involved in their work and feel that the tasks they do have meaning.
Control: The control aspect reflects the extent to which employees feel able to control the situation at work.
Challenges: Employees who see challenges as an opportunity to learn and develop show greater resilience in difficult situations.

Q: How can e-commerce companies support and develop employee hardiness?

A: E-commerce companies can support and develop employee hardiness by:

Developing a hardiness training program: A training program that focuses on building employee hardiness, including modules on commitment, control, and challenges.
Providing opportunities for employee development: Opportunities for employee development, such as training, mentorship, and career advancement.
Encouraging a growth mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset among employees, where challenges are seen as opportunities for learning and development.

Q: What are the benefits of hardiness in e-commerce company employees?

A: The benefits of hardiness in e-commerce company employees include:

Improved employee performance: Employees with high hardiness tend to perform better and be more productive.
Reduced stress: Employees with high hardiness tend to be better able to cope with stress and adversity.
Increased organizational health: Employees with high hardiness tend to contribute to a healthier and more resilient organization.

Q: How can e-commerce companies measure employee hardiness?

A: E-commerce companies can measure employee hardiness using various tools and methods, such as:

Hardiness scales: Scales that measure an individual's level of hardiness, such as the Maddi Hardiness Scale.
Employee surveys: Surveys that ask employees about their level of commitment, control, and challenges.
Performance metrics: Metrics that measure employee performance, such as sales targets and customer satisfaction.

Q: What are some common challenges that e-commerce companies face in developing employee hardiness?

A: Some common challenges that e-commerce companies face in developing employee hardiness include:

Limited resources: Limited resources, such as time and budget, to develop a hardiness training program.
Resistance to change: Resistance to change among employees, who may be skeptical about the value of hardiness training.
Competing priorities: Competing priorities, such as meeting sales targets and customer demands, that may distract from developing employee hardiness.

Q: How can e-commerce companies overcome these challenges?

A: E-commerce companies can overcome these challenges by:

Prioritizing employee hardiness: Prioritizing employee hardiness as a key business objective.
Developing a clear strategy: Developing a clear strategy for developing employee hardiness, including specific goals and timelines.
Engaging employees: Engaging employees in the development of employee hardiness, through regular feedback and communication.