Building A Resilient Team Thriving In A Fast-Paced And Uncertain Environment
Managers have become so habitual to automation and machines that they expect every task to be done quickly. In fact, employers look for candidates who can work in a fast-paced environment. At the same time, modern workplaces keep on changing with advancements in technology and market requirements.
With my keen observation of modern workplaces, I have noticed that disruption is the new norm. Today, deadlines have become shorter, and unforeseen challenges have become more frequent than ever. I can comfortably say that modern work environments have become fast and uncertain. In such an environment, only those who can withstand the speed and change of modern market demands will thrive.
Therefore, companies need to build resilient teams that can bounce back from setbacks and adapt to the changing circumstances of the marketplace. Any employer who wants to succeed in the fast-paced market will need to build a positive workspace where your team feels valued, empowered, and supported. A deep dedication towards how we work will make a more resilient team.
Here is how you can help your team survive and thrive in a fast-paced and uncertain work environment.
How To Build a Resilient Team?
Exiting a pandemic has affected corporate culture in the past few years. In fact, the current trend of intensive work has created high pressure, high burnout, and even higher demands for employees.
However, we have seen a rise in the resilient team, where leaders were intentional. A resilient team can withstand the fast-paced flow of an environment while managing the uncertainty of job requirements.
This kind of workplace is only possible with a positive culture. But how do you make one?
A Strong Leadership
The resilience of your team depends on the strength and intentionality of your leadership. Employees depend on leadership for support and guidance, especially when times are hard for them. Therefore, the leaders of the company must be trustworthy and psychologically safe entities that give the employees much-needed confidence.
Being a leader, it is your responsibility to cultivate a culture where risk is calculated, but we spend more time focusing on what is working. As employees have innovative ideas, we want to find ways to be curious and to say yes.
This way, the team will want to overcome their challenges even if they feel discouraged. When their innovative ideas and innovation are met with positivity it creates a snowball effect. When they are met with resistance and negativity, you can expect a lot of complaining. Positivity allows employees to learn how to become resilient when the company sees any uncertain circumstance or a close deadline.
A strong leader will help their subordinates with guidance and recognition. This can happen with a clear direction and autonomy to make decisions with support.
Have Open Communication
Why is it important to have open communication with your employees? Open communication means that employees will feel encouraged to discuss their feedback or opinions about a project. They will feel that their opinion matters to the company, and they value their role on a team.
An empowered employee will become resilient, confident that the management will have their back no matter what. For this, you can conduct regular team meetings and approachable feedback systems so that everyone is on the same page and shares the same dedication to the company.
When your employees feel heard by internal forces, there are no external forces that can shatter their resilience.
Keep Collaborating With Them
Collaboration means joining forces with your team to perform a task. The major benefit of collaboration is that we get different skill sets on our team to bring maximum results. Collaboration ensures that the best person can do their part of the job. When you have a team that collaborates with one another, each member feels backed by the ability of the other. With this psychological effect, they feel resilient enough to stand against the challenges of work.
How do you create a collaborative environment within your positive workplace?
You can start by providing opportunities for teamwork with cross-functional or cross-departmental projects. Or whenever a project starts, or a team is stuck in a part of the project make room for brainstorming sessions where every employee is welcomed to share their opinions and knowledge. This will help them in tackling the challenges together.
Maintain Work-Life Balance
Do you know? Burnout is the killer of resilience. When a person feels exhausted and drained by work, it is said that the person is experiencing burnout.
No matter what the person would do, they will not be able to work with the same level of dedication that is required by a resilient team.
Therefore, it is important for the company’s management to promote healthy boundaries between work and personal life. You can avoid burnout within your team by offering them a flexible work arrangement, discouraging work after hours, and checking in with them on their overall well-being. You can also allow your employees to take time off to recharge their energy with paid leave.
This will help them combat stress and stay dedicated to their job so that they can manage the inevitable challenges coming their way.
Recognize And Appreciate
If you want your employees to show you dedication and work with full honesty, you must recognize their efforts. According to research by BenefitsPro, among the employees who felt respected and appreciated by their employees, 89% enjoyed their jobs.
It is basic human nature that we feel valued when someone utters a few words of appreciation for our work. We want to be rigid about our processes, but give understanding of our people.
So, talk about their achievements, discuss how we can improve, and always being looking for ways to level up. To do this, you can celebrate their individual or collective milestones and victories. This recognition will boost their morale and make them resilient in a fast-paced and uncertain environment.
Final Thoughts
As I said, today’s work environments look for candidates who can move within a demanding environment while staying resilient to the uncertainty of the market. Your company also deserves a resilient team that can stand by your side when the times are out of control. So, what are you waiting for? Build your own resilient team through positivity!
