Building resilience within a team is a vital strategy for creating a positive, adaptable, and high-performing work culture. In an era of constant change, where stress levels are high and burnout is a growing concern, resilience empowers teams to stay focused, overcome setbacks, and continue achieving their goals. Here are some effective approaches to cultivating resilience in your team:
1. Foster a Growth Mindset
Resilience starts with a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for learning. When team members adopt a growth mindset, they’re more likely to see setbacks as temporary and solvable. Leaders can encourage this perspective by framing failures as learning experiences and celebrating not just achievements but also the lessons learned along the way. A growth mindset instills confidence, making team members more open to taking risks and adapting to change.
Action Tip: Hold a “What We Learned” session after key projects, allowing team members to discuss insights gained, both from successes and challenges. This reinforces that the process of learning is as valuable as the outcomes achieved.
2. Promote Strong Communication and Psychological Safety
For resilience to thrive, team members need a safe space to express concerns, ask for help, and share ideas without fear of judgment. Psychological safety, where individuals feel comfortable being authentic and vulnerable, is essential for resilient teams. Leaders can foster this by encouraging open communication, modeling transparency, and practicing active listening. When teams feel safe, they are more likely to support each other, approach challenges creatively, and take initiative without fear of failure.
Action Tip: Start each meeting with an open “check-in” round, where everyone shares how they’re feeling. This builds trust, promotes transparency, and sets a tone of empathy and mutual support.
3. Build Support Networks Within the Team
Resilient teams rely on strong interpersonal connections. Encourage team members to build relationships with one another through team-building activities, collaborative projects, and peer mentorship. Establishing a support network ensures that individuals feel they’re not facing challenges alone and can lean on each other for encouragement and advice. Teams that feel connected are more likely to persevere through tough times and emerge stronger.
Action Tip: Create a buddy system or peer-mentoring program where team members check in regularly, creating a culture of mutual support and trust.
4. Encourage Flexibility and Adaptability
In an ever-changing work environment, resilience requires the ability to pivot and adapt. Encourage team members to embrace flexibility by cross-training in different roles, experimenting with new methods, and being open to change. Flexibility helps teams manage the unexpected with ease and keeps them agile in response to shifting demands. Leaders can promote adaptability by celebrating team members’ willingness to step out of their comfort zones and try new approaches.
Action Tip: Offer upskilling opportunities to help team members gain new skills, which can boost confidence and adaptability when faced with change.
5. Prioritize Well-being and Self-Care
Resilience is not possible without a focus on well-being. Encourage team members to take regular breaks, set boundaries, and practice self-care. Leaders can model this behavior by taking time off when needed and promoting a healthy work-life balance. When well-being is a priority, individuals are more resilient, energetic, and able to tackle challenges with a fresh perspective.
Action Tip: Establish “focus hours” or “unplug times” during the week, where team members are encouraged to focus on important work without interruptions or to take a moment to recharge.
Conclusion
Building resilience on a team requires intentional actions that promote a growth mindset, psychological safety, strong relationships, adaptability, and well-being. Resilient teams are more than just strong – they’re flexible, collaborative, and resourceful, capable of facing challenges with determination and creativity. When leaders prioritize these resilience-building practices, they lay the foundation for a supportive and thriving team environment, where individuals feel empowered to give their best, no matter the circumstances.
1. Foster a Growth Mindset
Resilience starts with a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for learning. When team members adopt a growth mindset, they’re more likely to see setbacks as temporary and solvable. Leaders can encourage this perspective by framing failures as learning experiences and celebrating not just achievements but also the lessons learned along the way. A growth mindset instills confidence, making team members more open to taking risks and adapting to change.
Action Tip: Hold a “What We Learned” session after key projects, allowing team members to discuss insights gained, both from successes and challenges. This reinforces that the process of learning is as valuable as the outcomes achieved.
2. Promote Strong Communication and Psychological Safety
For resilience to thrive, team members need a safe space to express concerns, ask for help, and share ideas without fear of judgment. Psychological safety, where individuals feel comfortable being authentic and vulnerable, is essential for resilient teams. Leaders can foster this by encouraging open communication, modeling transparency, and practicing active listening. When teams feel safe, they are more likely to support each other, approach challenges creatively, and take initiative without fear of failure.
Action Tip: Start each meeting with an open “check-in” round, where everyone shares how they’re feeling. This builds trust, promotes transparency, and sets a tone of empathy and mutual support.
3. Build Support Networks Within the Team
Resilient teams rely on strong interpersonal connections. Encourage team members to build relationships with one another through team-building activities, collaborative projects, and peer mentorship. Establishing a support network ensures that individuals feel they’re not facing challenges alone and can lean on each other for encouragement and advice. Teams that feel connected are more likely to persevere through tough times and emerge stronger.
Action Tip: Create a buddy system or peer-mentoring program where team members check in regularly, creating a culture of mutual support and trust.
4. Encourage Flexibility and Adaptability
In an ever-changing work environment, resilience requires the ability to pivot and adapt. Encourage team members to embrace flexibility by cross-training in different roles, experimenting with new methods, and being open to change. Flexibility helps teams manage the unexpected with ease and keeps them agile in response to shifting demands. Leaders can promote adaptability by celebrating team members’ willingness to step out of their comfort zones and try new approaches.
Action Tip: Offer upskilling opportunities to help team members gain new skills, which can boost confidence and adaptability when faced with change.
5. Prioritize Well-being and Self-Care
Resilience is not possible without a focus on well-being. Encourage team members to take regular breaks, set boundaries, and practice self-care. Leaders can model this behavior by taking time off when needed and promoting a healthy work-life balance. When well-being is a priority, individuals are more resilient, energetic, and able to tackle challenges with a fresh perspective.
Action Tip: Establish “focus hours” or “unplug times” during the week, where team members are encouraged to focus on important work without interruptions or to take a moment to recharge.
Conclusion
Building resilience on a team requires intentional actions that promote a growth mindset, psychological safety, strong relationships, adaptability, and well-being. Resilient teams are more than just strong – they’re flexible, collaborative, and resourceful, capable of facing challenges with determination and creativity. When leaders prioritize these resilience-building practices, they lay the foundation for a supportive and thriving team environment, where individuals feel empowered to give their best, no matter the circumstances.
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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