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Employees celebrating an accomplishment<\/p>\n
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Every business is bound to face challenges at some point. The way your team handles such trials reveals whether they\u2019re prone to succumb or overcome. Your team may experience unexpected delays in the supply chain that make it harder to meet deadlines. Or internal conflict may arise due to differences in personalities or varying opinions on how to get things done.<\/p>\n
Whatever the difficulties may be, savvy business owners know team resilience is key to overcoming setbacks and meeting expectations. Often, the difference between success and failure comes down to the tools you carry in your proverbial toolbelt. Here are four ways you can equip your team with one of the most powerful coping tools available: resilience.<\/p>\n
Resilience is not just about surviving tough times and coming out a winner on the other side. It\u2019s also about owning and learning from mistakes<\/a> so you can avoid making them again. If your team members immediately blame others for their missteps, they\u2019ll never become resilient.<\/p>\n Owning up to mistakes and learning from them is a critical skill that\u2019s tied to resilience. One could argue that it\u2019s impossible to develop resilience without experiencing failure first. People who can roll with the punches tend to view failure as an invaluable source of feedback. Though setbacks are frustrating, a resilient person can learn from them and forge a more successful path in the future.<\/p>\n To develop a team that can bounce back, foster a culture of admitting to mistakes. Discuss the actions that led to those errors and how they can be prevented going forward. In some cases, setbacks may be totally outside of your team\u2019s control. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to take things on a case-by-case basis when determining whether performance improvement measures are necessary. If you deal with employees fairly, they will find it easier to take ownership of their actions and thus become more resilient.<\/p>\n Resilience is so much easier to achieve when you know you have a team of capable people supporting you. Some of the most talented and impactful teams aren\u2019t necessarily composed of the most brilliant people on the planet. Rather, they\u2019re made up of individuals who trust each other and know how to cooperate effectively<\/a>.<\/p>\n Too often, members of the same team feel like they\u2019re pitted against each other. This may happen due to competition for similar promotions or opportunities. It may also occur when employees want to gain favor in the eyes of management. It\u2019s important to pay attention to how your team members interact with each other. If they seem distrustful of one another, it\u2019s time to strengthen the team connection.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t worry, you don\u2019t have to line your employees up and have them do trust falls all day. There are much more effective (and fun) ways to build resilience<\/a> and camaraderie. Regular team lunch-and-learns, happy hours and awards ceremonies are great for building a sense of connection. As your employees get to know and trust one another, collaboration will come more naturally. You\u2019ll also notice that your team is better able to handle and deal with setbacks when the members work together.<\/p>\n The Predictive 6-Factor Resilience Scale<\/a> lists resourcefulness among the reasoning skills that factor into an individual\u2019s overall degree of resilience. Other character traits associated with resilience include tenacity, collaboration and vision. While there\u2019s (probably) no college class that teaches resourcefulness, you can help instill this trait in your team.<\/p>\n The first step is to build a resourcefulness infrastructure. One way to do this is to provide the resources\u2014it\u2019s right there in the name\u2014that enable employees to answer their own questions. Project management systems let employees know who\u2019s doing what and who needs a project deliverable when they\u2019re through with it. Knowledge bases make subject matter knowledge widely available. Cloud-based file-sharing systems give employees access to required documents without needing to request them from a colleague.<\/p>\n Not that employees have to solve every problem on their own\u2014you can further encourage resourcefulness by making it normal to ask for help. Resourcefulness doesn\u2019t always mean relying on oneself for answers. Often, the most resourceful people are those who lean on the knowledge of more experienced people to overcome a pressing challenge.<\/p>\n The best environment for resourcefulness encourages creativity and gives employees flexibility in how they resolve issues. Give your teams clear goals and objectives, but let them determine the best ways to achieve those goals.<\/p>\n Too often, the idea of resilience is tied to unrealistic, superhuman-like expectations. But everyone has a limit, regardless of how resilient they may be. If your employees are pushed past their limits, they\u2019ll eventually become physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Burnout is a phenomenon<\/a> that can cost both your employees and your business dearly.<\/p>\n Burnout impairs job performance and often leads to major losses for employers. These losses may come in the form of increased healthcare costs, more employee sick days and loss of productivity. Burnout can also cause employee morale to plummet. Common signs of team burnout include disengagement, decreased work quality and increased complaining. If you notice these behaviors, take note.<\/p>\n2. Build a Team Connection<\/h2>\n
3. Encourage Resourcefulness<\/h2>\n
4. Watch for Burnout<\/h2>\n