The rate of change in global business today is unprecedented. The scale and depth leaders, managers and staff must adapt to navigate change has forced organizations to rethink how to approach daily operations. There are many important systems and processes to stabilize an organization but nothing is more important that preparing people to build resilience and navigate change well. It is a game changer.
Try these three principles to start you and your team on the road to resiliency.
- Keep listening to the undercurrents of the conversations. What is said is important but the feelings exhibited, the burnout signals, the resistant to new ways are equally important. Surface issues and problem solve together. Slow down, pay attention and listen to the team. Too much talent is untapped because this is not done with consistency.
“In an age of exponential change, we need the power of diverse thinking, and we cannot afford to leave any talent untapped.” -Cathy Engelbert - Be as proactive as possible in your team meetings. You have immediate needs but teams that can forecast, prepare and plan for long-term success are most likely the ones to handle the constant shifting of priorities. Build in time with your teams to discuss next month and next quarter not just next week. Proactive thinking is a habit and therefore it is habit-forming. By keeping your team focused on the future possibilities, you can mitigate problems—that is a wiser path.
“A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.” –Albert Einstein - Individual motivation and engagement can be hard to tap during the stressful times as we have experienced. To tap into a team’s motivation can be even harder. Teams want to know they are not in it alone. Encourage and celebrate the team’s progress. It is a mental game that often keeps teams moving and a manager’s job is to reinforce shared successes. If the team, collectively, believes they can do it, that is a strong motivator for getting through any obstacle that is put in front of the team. Determination not desire will often win the game.
“It’s better to have a great team than a team of greats.” – Simon Sinek