How do you think the employees in your company would step up to the plate when faced with a challenge?
Individually, and as a group, workplace resilience is key to coping with workplace adversity. When employees positively adapt and bounce back from challenges, setbacks, and stress in their role, they’re showing workplace resilience.
Workplace resilience has become a hot topic recently. Not being resilient is often seen as a sign of weakness. However, progressive employers are doing everything they can to create an environment where employees can thrive and grow this resilience.
As a manager or team leader, you play a key role in helping your people become more resilient. Here are five proven strategies you can use to build a more resilient and empowered team.
- Create a Safe Space to Discuss Challenges
To build resilience, employees need to feel they can open up about difficulties without judgement. Regular one-on-ones allow managers and team leaders to check in on any problems and provide support.
Consider running focus groups where people can share their experiences anonymously. Make it clear you encourage open and honest feedback - positive and negative. This helps normalise struggles and enable solutions.
- Lead by Example
Nothing undermines resilience like poor leadership. Managers seen as hypocritical or unsupportive will struggle to build trust.
Walk the talk in modelling healthy behaviours like taking regular breaks, switching off after hours and talking openly about your own ups and downs. Employees will feel empowered to follow suit.
- Encourage Detachment Breaks
When faced with a difficult task or situation, it’s easy to become consumed by stress and worry. Detachment breaks - taking five minutes away from your desk to get a drink, chat with a colleague or just to breathe deeply - help clear your head.
Leaders can build routines that give people time to detach and reset, whether it's a mid-morning walking meeting for the fresh air, or Thursday lunchtime yoga in a quiet room.
- Set Clear Goals
Uncertainty is like a kryptonite for resilience. Employees need to understand how their role affects wider organisational objectives.
Regularly communicate company goals from the top down. Make sure every individual has clearly defined metrics based on those goals. This alignment empowers people to see the bigger picture.
- Show Empathy
Workplace resilience depends on employees feeling valued, understood, and cared for. An open-door policy where people are comfortable asking for help breeds psychological safety.
Small acts like checking in on someone’s weekend plans or taking the time to ask how they really are can work wonders. A little empathy goes a long way.
A resilient workforce isn't built overnight. It requires an open, trusting workplace culture where employees feel psychologically safe to discuss challenges without judgement. Managers should lead by example in modelling healthy behaviours and showing empathy. When staff feel valued and aligned behind shared goals, they become empowered to positively adapt in the face of adversity.
The strategies we've discussed like encouraging openness, taking detachment breaks and setting clear objectives, are proven to help teams withstand stress and thrive. Consider offering workplace resilience training too for greater effects – short eLearning courses would go a long way. By unleashing employee resilience, you gain empowered individuals and a stronger, tighter-knit workplace ready to tackle challenges together.
Looking to develop a resilient team?
Help get a stronger and more resilient team by downloading our FREE New Year Blues Kit. It’s there to support you when continually running a growing team. Get in touch with us or try iAM Learning for yourself - get started today!
