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How to Build a More Resilient Team
Organizations invest significant resources in building effective teams, but their success often hinges on the ability to navigate setbacks. A team unable to overcome challenges represents a squandered investment. According to Richard Citrin, Ph.D., author of The Resilience Advantage, the same strategies that foster personal resilience can be applied to build resilient teams.
Here are seven essential habits that enable teams to thrive through adversity.
1. Foster a Culture of Psychological Safety
Resilience is difficult when team members fear speaking up. Len Glick, a professor at Northeastern University, explains that psychological safety is created by allowing people to make mistakes or disagree without facing negative consequences. This safety encourages calculated risks and honest opinions, which helps identify and solve problems before they escalate.
"They raise alternative points of view, talk about feelings, express emotions, and have fewer ‘undiscussables,’" Glick notes. "All of these actions help the team to deal with change and setbacks."
2. Communicate Goals with Clarity
Clear, achievable goals are a cornerstone of resilient teams. Glick emphasizes that when every member understands their role and objectives, uncertainty diminishes. Vague goals can erode resilience. A simple test is to have each team member write down the team’s goals; a lack of alignment often reveals a critical need for clarification.
3. Maintain Low Turnover for Stability
Team stability is crucial for building resilience. Glick points out that low turnover allows members to grow more comfortable with each other over time. It also signals a leader's commitment to the team, which in turn fosters loyalty and motivates individuals to act in the team's best interest.
4. Lead with a Cool Head
Leaders set the emotional tone for their teams. "Your team is going to watch you for cues about how to behave," says Kate Zabriskie, president of Business Training Works. Modeling calm, fair behavior makes the team feel more secure in your leadership. Conversely, reacting harshly to a mistake teaches the team to disengage and avoid taking risks.
5. Address Problems Head-On
Avoiding difficult situations is counterproductive. Citrin advises that whether it's a stressful project, a personnel issue, or a mistake, it must be dealt with directly. He suggests that managers can demonstrate courage by discussing topics like workload or time constraints, which opens the door to realistic planning and priority setting.
6. Reframe Challenges as Opportunities
Resilient teams, much like resilient individuals, can find lessons in adversity. Zabriskie explains that the key is not just learning from a negative situation but deciding what to do about it. This "reframing" allows a team to adapt its approach and improve future outcomes.
7. Build the Right Skill Set for Agility
In today’s volatile business environment, agility is a key component of resilience. Citrin recommends helping team members develop skills in:
- Critical thinking
- Self-awareness
- Strong communication
These capabilities enable team members to better understand the challenges they face, the needs of their colleagues, and how to pivot effectively toward success. '''