APPROACH
Grounded in evidence. Built in practice.
The Challenge of Change was created from years of deep research into stress and resilience that continues to shape today’s insights.
Stress Research Unit, University of York
What protects some people from stress while others suffer?
Answering this question led to the establishment of the Stress Research Unit at the University of York, where research explored why people respond differently to pressure and emotional events.
One of the key findings was the impact of worry and rumination. Thinking about a difficult event before it happens, and continuing to replay it afterwards, can prolong not only the emotional upset but also the body’s physical stress response.
The findings challenged traditional thinking about stress and resilience. Importantly, they suggested that it is not simply what happens to us that matters, but what we continue to do with it afterwards.
This shift in understanding became an important foundation for the approach we use today.
Creating The Challenge of Change
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Development with controlled studies
The research didn’t stay in the research unit. Working with serving officers in the North Yorkshire Police Force created an opportunity to put the findings into practice, leading to the development of the Challenge of Change Resilience Training programme.
Importantly, the programme could then be rigorously tested. Carefully controlled studies found significant improvements in health, performance and sickness absence, with the changes sustained over an 18-month follow-up period.
It is this combination of evidence and real-world application that is core to The Challenge of Change.
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Widespread implementation
The Challenge of Change Resilience programme quickly became established in the UK, and was widely implemented in a range of public and private sector companies.
The programme was established in New Zealand in 2003 and today is supporting a range of companies. In the US, the programme was introduced into the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in 2014 and delivered as part of their service to customers.
There are now five global Master Trainers and many accredited trainers who deliver the programme globally with a focus on UK, New Zealand, US and Germany.