When you work in a resilient team, it's easy to take it for granted. We often don't think deeply about why things are going well. We just enjoy it.

If however, resilience is down, then you will know about it. Productivity slows down, people begin bickering, and sickness increases. There's stress and strain everywhere you look. It feels heavy and tiring to be part of the team.

Nurturing resilience in teams requires a collective effort rooted in commitment, trust, and a shared vision. Working together to create an environment that cherishes adaptability, collaboration, and improvement. A bit of humour helps too.

Teams who actively strengthen their collective resilience, will navigate uncertainties with more confidence and become stronger through adversity.

Remember, resilience doesn't render us immune to challenges. It empowers us to face them in the best possible way and to get better outcomes.

How do they do it? I hear you ask ...

When things get difficult, because of internal or external factors, because people are struggling personally, a mistake has been made, or any other reason. This is a time of heightened sensitivity for everyone. People worry about their jobs, reputation, and opportunities for promotion. Managers worry about how their reports are feeling, the targets or goals they are responsible for, and what their boss will say. Directors are looking at all of that too and are concerned about the wider implications and the next board meeting. When we sit in worry, fear, and uncertainty, it doesn't amplify the best in us as individuals, so why should it be any different for teams?

Teams that are in hot water need to slow down, connect, and breathe.

What often happens is individuals think about what they can do, people put their heads down, and work really hard on what they think matters - often burning themselves out to make sure they do their bit well. This might help, but if the playing field is evolving moment to moment through a challenging period and you stop communicating, then you just might end up running off in different directions and failing to navigate the challenges as efficiently as you could together.

Instead, try getting in a room together and downing tools, so you can look each other in the eye and have a conversation.

Here are some of the foundations you can work on day-to-day to make sure that when you come together that conversation is...

a) possible, and

b) useful

Resilience is not just for times of crisis. You don't want to be building the boat while navigating choppy waters late at night!

Be mindful of creating a safer environment for people to be their full, true, and authentic selves. Everyone is learning, and no one is perfect. If people can both celebrate their wins and talk openly about their growth edges and errors then you've set the tone for open conversations, calculated risk-taking, and the sharing of innovative ideas (sharing those can be vulnerable as you often need to voice the daft ideas to get to the brilliant ones). If there's a fear of judgment or other unhealthy behaviours that make it feel unsafe then it will be difficult for resilience to grow.

Good communication is the foundation of all relationships and creates bonds that strengthen over time and result in an effective way of working together. Active listening, articulating new ideas, speaking up when something doesn't feel right, each person asking for what they need and how they can contribute more effectively. Giving and receiving constructive growth-oriented feedback. This is the food that feeds resilience.

Trust and collaboration form the bedrock of team resilience. As you build trust together, you foster an environment where collaboration is not just encouraged but ingrained. Supporting one another, leveraging each other's strengths, and working cohesively towards your common goals strengthens your collective resolve and resilience.

When the chips are down, personally and/or professionally, a healthy dose of empathy and support is going to elevate your resilience. Take good care of each other during trying times, appreciate each other often, and celebrate personal and collective victories regularly. When we all come together as loving, big-hearted humans, we are all lifted - the givers and the receivers.

Adaptability and flexibility are your allies in change. Equipping your team with the ability to pivot swiftly in response to unforeseen circumstances is imperative. Embracing flexibility in approaches, brainstorming new solutions, and nurturing creative problem-solving skills are vital for our adaptability.

Developing conflict resolution skills equips you for success and positive action amidst differences. Learning constructive ways to navigate disagreements and maintain positive working relationships is fundamental for your positive collective spirit and strength.

A learning culture is your pathway to continuous improvement. Encouraging ongoing learning, knowledge sharing, and embracing novelty in ideas and approaches invigorates your team spirit. Valuing successes and failures as learning opportunities encourages introspection and growth.

Leading by example is a guiding principle. Leadership, from all positions, serves as the beacon of resilience. By showcasing resilience in actions, decision-making, and our response to challenges, we set the tone for our collective resilience.

If you'd like to find out about 1-to-1 career change & development programmes, or coaching for your team/organisation get in touch bev@aumida.com or click here to book a call.  

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Picture credit: Lou W/peopleimages