Retooling the Self for the Post-Pandemic Economy

Abstract

This chapter addresses the self, work, and well-being through the explication of four heuristics and their associated tools and strategies to foster knowledge for the creation of a new identity in relation to work. These include 1) the values in action (VIA) inventory of strengths; 2) the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments model (PERMA); 3) the process of resilience-building; and 4) the process of values identification. The practical application of these frameworks is illustrated through five case studies gleaned from practitioner experiences in the applied field of leadership development, training, and well-being coaching. The case studies demonstrate how persons from a diverse range of occupations and career stages use the concepts and strategies discussed to grapple with new understandings of self and address the distinctive challenges of work in the post-pandemic era.