In yesterday’s post, we explored the what and why of resilience, highlighting its importance in today’s high-stress work environments. But how do we actually build resilience? Fortunately, resilience is a skill that can be nurtured and strengthened, both individually and within teams. Today, we’ll dive into specific, actionable strategies to cultivate resilience at work.
1. Cultivate a Growth Mindset
At the core of resilience is a growth mindset – the belief that challenges and setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth. Encourage team members to view obstacles as temporary and solvable, rather than fixed or insurmountable. This mindset shift helps employees approach challenges with curiosity rather than defeat, building resilience over time. Leaders can foster a growth mindset by reframing setbacks as learning opportunities and modeling this perspective in their own work.
Action Tip: Host a “Lessons Learned” meeting after significant projects, where team members share insights gained from any setbacks. This reinforces the value of learning over mere success.
2. Prioritize Well-being and Self-Care
Resilience requires physical and mental strength, which is difficult to sustain without prioritizing well-being. Encourage team members to take breaks, set boundaries, and engage in self-care activities that recharge them. Promote resources like mindfulness sessions, flexible working hours, or employee well-being programs. When leaders prioritize self-care and communicate its importance, they set a positive example for the entire team.
Action Tip: Create a “Recharge Policy” that encourages team members to take short breaks or engage in a wellness activity each day, whether it’s a walk, a meditation session, or a simple digital detox.
3. Foster Strong Relationships and Support Networks
Social support is a key factor in resilience. Building strong relationships with colleagues fosters trust and provides a support network during challenging times. Encouraging open communication and team bonding activities can strengthen these relationships. A team that trusts one another is more likely to collaborate effectively and support each other through tough moments.
Action Tip: Implement a buddy or peer-mentoring system where team members regularly check in on each other, creating a culture of mutual support.
4. Encourage Flexibility and Adaptability
Resilience is about adapting to change rather than resisting it. Foster flexibility within your team by encouraging employees to be open to new ideas, roles, or ways of working. Cross-training team members and offering learning opportunities can also enhance adaptability, preparing team members for unexpected changes.
Action Tip: Provide regular upskilling or training opportunities to help team members gain new competencies, which can improve their adaptability and confidence.
5. Build Emotional Agility
Emotional agility – the ability to manage and navigate emotions productively – is critical for resilience. Encourage team members to acknowledge their emotions without judgment and use them as data to make constructive decisions. Techniques like mindfulness, journaling, or simply taking a moment to pause can help individuals handle stress more effectively.
Action Tip: Start meetings with a “check-in” question about how team members are feeling, allowing them to recognize and process their emotions in a supportive setting.
Conclusion
Building resilience is an ongoing process that requires intention, practice, and support. By fostering a growth mindset, prioritizing well-being, strengthening relationships, encouraging adaptability, and promoting emotional agility, leaders can create a workplace where resilience thrives. When team members are equipped with resilience, they’re better able to navigate challenges, support each other, and continue contributing effectively. Resilience isn’t just a personal asset – it’s a collective strength that, when nurtured, can transform an entire team’s approach to work and life.
1. Cultivate a Growth Mindset
At the core of resilience is a growth mindset – the belief that challenges and setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth. Encourage team members to view obstacles as temporary and solvable, rather than fixed or insurmountable. This mindset shift helps employees approach challenges with curiosity rather than defeat, building resilience over time. Leaders can foster a growth mindset by reframing setbacks as learning opportunities and modeling this perspective in their own work.
Action Tip: Host a “Lessons Learned” meeting after significant projects, where team members share insights gained from any setbacks. This reinforces the value of learning over mere success.
2. Prioritize Well-being and Self-Care
Resilience requires physical and mental strength, which is difficult to sustain without prioritizing well-being. Encourage team members to take breaks, set boundaries, and engage in self-care activities that recharge them. Promote resources like mindfulness sessions, flexible working hours, or employee well-being programs. When leaders prioritize self-care and communicate its importance, they set a positive example for the entire team.
Action Tip: Create a “Recharge Policy” that encourages team members to take short breaks or engage in a wellness activity each day, whether it’s a walk, a meditation session, or a simple digital detox.
3. Foster Strong Relationships and Support Networks
Social support is a key factor in resilience. Building strong relationships with colleagues fosters trust and provides a support network during challenging times. Encouraging open communication and team bonding activities can strengthen these relationships. A team that trusts one another is more likely to collaborate effectively and support each other through tough moments.
Action Tip: Implement a buddy or peer-mentoring system where team members regularly check in on each other, creating a culture of mutual support.
4. Encourage Flexibility and Adaptability
Resilience is about adapting to change rather than resisting it. Foster flexibility within your team by encouraging employees to be open to new ideas, roles, or ways of working. Cross-training team members and offering learning opportunities can also enhance adaptability, preparing team members for unexpected changes.
Action Tip: Provide regular upskilling or training opportunities to help team members gain new competencies, which can improve their adaptability and confidence.
5. Build Emotional Agility
Emotional agility – the ability to manage and navigate emotions productively – is critical for resilience. Encourage team members to acknowledge their emotions without judgment and use them as data to make constructive decisions. Techniques like mindfulness, journaling, or simply taking a moment to pause can help individuals handle stress more effectively.
Action Tip: Start meetings with a “check-in” question about how team members are feeling, allowing them to recognize and process their emotions in a supportive setting.
Conclusion
Building resilience is an ongoing process that requires intention, practice, and support. By fostering a growth mindset, prioritizing well-being, strengthening relationships, encouraging adaptability, and promoting emotional agility, leaders can create a workplace where resilience thrives. When team members are equipped with resilience, they’re better able to navigate challenges, support each other, and continue contributing effectively. Resilience isn’t just a personal asset – it’s a collective strength that, when nurtured, can transform an entire team’s approach to work and life.
Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder
Looking for bite-sized boosts to your work as a coach, leader or during your onboarding process? Check out our Card Decks. Now available on Deckible:
90-Day Guide for Success – Deck 1 – Days 1 – 30 (for new leaders, onboarding or those wanting a sprint) – https://bit.ly/90dayguidedeck1
ACTIVATE Your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (for coaches) – https://bit.ly/activatedeck
Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.
Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos
Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our card decks, customized team development and leadership training, OR award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/jennbritton/15-minute-exploration-call
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder
Looking for bite-sized boosts to your work as a coach, leader or during your onboarding process? Check out our Card Decks. Now available on Deckible:
90-Day Guide for Success – Deck 1 – Days 1 – 30 (for new leaders, onboarding or those wanting a sprint) – https://bit.ly/90dayguidedeck1
ACTIVATE Your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (for coaches) – https://bit.ly/activatedeck
Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.
Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos
Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our card decks, customized team development and leadership training, OR award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/jennbritton/15-minute-exploration-call
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