Why is Resilience Important in Our Teams (and lives!) - PART TWO

This is part two of my blog series on Resilience. If you have not read the previous blog (What is Resilience) you can find it here.

I am a passionate advocate of developing resilience. To me, it is the single most important thing we can develop within ourselves, within our teams and within our families to help us manage the crazy world we live in. A resilient person or team is able to acknowledge their own emotions, pick themselves up, find solutions, draw a line and draw some learnings, while maintaining a positive outlook. Resilient people truly understand the age-old adage of “this too shall pass” and can weather storms which will inevitably come (regardless of the weather report).

Over this series of three blogs I will break down the topic of Resilience – what it is, why is it important and how we can build resilience in ourselves and our teams!

Why is building Resilience so important?

Growing resilience is a key strategic priority that businesses need to focus on. A resilient team or person is a productive team or person! Businesses have experienced such change over the last two years and their needs continue to evolve as we navigate the post-covid, post-lockdown world.

A lack of resilience in leaders (or indeed any team members) has far-reaching impacts on a business. Workplace culture and engagement can so easily be impacted and ergo, team performance can plummet. A lack of personal resilience in a manager tends to lead to a lack of resilience in their team! As a parent (and as a leader) this is terrifying. My own personal lack of resilience could impact those who I lead (and those who look to me for leadership).

Conversely, a leader who has resilience, shelters their team from pressures (where appropriate), models behaviour which keeps their team calm - operating at optimum levels and enabling their team to feel relaxed and happy in their roles (even when things in their life and work are challenging).

Developing a resilient workforce is also key in influencing positive health outcomes - an important focus area for any business leader. A healthy team is a productive team.

RESILIENCE CAN….

Improve performance:

In today’s workplaces, resilience is required for peak performance. Resilience can be a powerful buffer from the stresses of work and life and enables your team to share, “bounce back” and learn from challenges. Resilience allows teams and businesses to remain profitable and competitive, even during challenging times.

Decrease burnout:

Resilience is associated with lower stress levels, and we all know that people who experience less stress are less likely to experience burnout. Burnout is real and, according to a survey of 900 workers undertaken by Frog Recruitment in March this year) 68% of those surveyed report feeling more burnt out than the same time last year. 62% were either looking to change their job this year or weren’t sure if they would continue in their current role. Talent shortages are real and the increasing pressure on staff to compensate for gaps in their team, combined with a general sense of uncertainty means stress levels are high.

Increased work engagement, job satisfaction and commitment to an organisation is also associated with resilience (all elements that also link to retention!). If we are better able to bounce back from stress or challenges, we are happier and less likely to become overwhelmed and tired in our roles. Rather than giving up when faced with setbacks, those who have resilience are able to carry on and focus on the bigger picture!

Why is Resilience important in Leaders?

The resiliency of leaders impacts how they lead and has a direct correlation to the performance and engagement of their teams. When a leader experiences stress, they tend to engage in fewer positive leadership behaviours (we are human, after all). There is a reduction in the leader sharing optimistic visions for the future, setting ambitious goals and communicating their confidence that their team can reach these goals. They struggle to clarify roles, define goals and recognise performance within their teams. Stressed leaders become passive – they are less likely to address performance issues and avoid making decisions or taking responsibility altogether. Altogether a recipe for disaster as far as leadership is concerned!

As a “leader” our behaviour undoubtably impacts our teams’ attitudes and behaviours regarding work. We are the benchmark for our teams and need to leader as we wish others to follow.

Leaders who have resilience as one of their “superpowers” provide creative ideas, problem-solve and encourage their team to contribute meaningfully.  They face challenges and learn from them (and encourage their teams to do the same).

Watch this space for the Part Three of my blog series on Resilience (Part One - What is Resilience can be found here.)

Our HR Business Partners would love to help you build resilience in your leaders and their teams - so they are ready to grow and thrive within your business. Contact us by emailing info@corehr.co.nz to discuss your requirements!

Angela Porfiriadis-Walker
Senior HR Business Partner