Leaders who value resilience also create high performing teams

TEAMS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS, need to be resilient. Here are 5 steps teams can take to develop resilience.

1. Make resilience a commitment. If we use yesterday’s thinking to solve today’s problem, we will only recreate history. If we complained of working too hard last year, why would working even harder this year under COVID be the solution? We have to make well-being a priority.
2. Have faith in the future. While it is imperative we don’t avoid or pretend the current crisis isn’t as bad as it seems, we cannot lose faith that we will survive and thrive sometime in the future. Teams need to remind themselves of this often. We all have a common enemy, and now teamwork is more important than ever.
3. Reframe the challenge. As Ryan Holiday said in his book, The Obstacle is the Way, we need to seek-out the lessons during a crisis, so we don’t repeat them. By reframing the challenges as opportunities for growth we become more resilient.
4. Set clear goals. Teams need to be crystal clear of their goals and what each team member’s role is. Lack of clarity will bring on more misunderstanding and fear, at a time when we want more certainty and control.
5. Invest in team member development. This is the time to double down on team and employee development by building new skills. A great way is to offer coaching. A study of 400 Navy recruits found a 20% increase in resilience when coaching was provided.

As you look at the above list, it becomes clear that building team-resilience during times of crisis are the same steps to building high performing teams in any environment.