Resilence - Today’s Essential Skill
When I think of resilience I associate it with a crisis. And whether the crisis is professional, personal, or even global, we tend to endure the worst of it, regain our balance, then come out the other side to face the new situation.
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” So, what happens when those difficult or challenging experiences happen on an ongoing basis?
In the current pandemic, we are experiencing a lasting crisis. With no end in sight, it’s hard to catch our breath. In the workplace, adapting to difficult situations requires that employees be equipped with essential resilience skills they can practice daily. Furthermore, we need resilient teams and organizations in which to work to support our individual resilience skills.
Individual Resilience
By building resilience, we will be better prepared for the unknowns that each day brings. In a recent conversation with Jen Arnold, Founder of Redesigning Wellness, we talked about ways employees can develop resilience skills. According to Arnold, “The first two things for people to consider are one, accepting what is and the reality of all that it is giving us. And two, asking, ‘what can I control?’ and focusing your energy there.”
Taking good care of yourself is the foundation of resilience. Arnold calls our physical self our “resilience support system.” In order to develop our resilience, it is essential that we practice good self-care such as getting enough sleep, managing our stress by taking breaks, eating healthy foods, and being physically active.
Team Resilience
I had a recent conversation with a colleague who shared that her husband, a manager in a high-tech organization, didn’t feel that he was responsible for his team’s well-being. Ouch. If all managers feel this way, then chances are employees will not feel cared for or valued.
For teams to be resilient, they need to:
Stay Positive. A positive attitude helps us maintain our sanity during stressful times. Managers can lead the way by being upbeat and open in sharing information.
Have Clear Direction. Managers should provide guidance on team goals. Having clearly stated objectives provides focus and measurable targets.
Feel Connected. Connection has become an even bigger issue in the age of remote working. Managers can encourage employees to look out for each other to prevent loneliness and to find ways to have fun with colleagues.
Organizational Resilience
Perhaps the hardest aspect of resilience is bringing it to the organizational level. Massive change has been foisted upon organizations this year. All that change creates anxiety. According to Arnold, “Organizations need to consider calming the anxious brain. People are so busy that they forget to communicate.”
For organizations to be resilient, they need to:
Communicate Transparently. Open, honest and ongoing communication with employees is essential. As the pandemic unfolded, I watched one of my client organizations establish daily communications to keep employees informed. Communications were detailed, upbeat, and demonstrated leadership. Additionally, they linked to the numerous well-being resources available. An employee survey conducted six months later showed that employees had great confidence in the leadership’s handling of the pandemic. It is no surprise that they have been voted a Best Place to Work for over a decade.
Build a Strong Culture. Culture is based on purpose, values, behaviors, and norms. Thriving, resilient cultures see accelerated performance compared with their peers, especially during times of crisis, according to research in the Journal of Human Performance. A strong culture is essential for both short-term recovery and long-term success.
Demonstrate Resilience from the Top. Resilient organizations are led by resilient leaders who are decisive, but who also show empathy and compassion.
For us to thrive as individuals, teams, and organizations, we need resilience. Not just for surviving a crisis, but for navigating everyday life.
