Your team is facing a crisis. How can you help them develop resilience?

You know, getting the hang of separating facts from feelings is super important but, man, it's not easy. It's like trying to walk a tightrope without leaning too much into blaming or taking things personally. So, in our team, we've got this mental checklist to help us stay on track during tough times. First up, we make sure any fact we bring up isn't pointing fingers at anyone. Then, we keep it in our ballpark, talking about stuff we actually have control over and can change. There are as many as 10 such items on our sheet, these are just two of them

It’s important to note the cornerstone of building resilience in a team facing a crisis lies in prioritizing communication, fostering a sense of community, and empowering team members to adapt and overcome challenges together.

There is a saying from Jim Collins Good to Great Book "Face the Brutal Facts" By facing the brutal facts, individuals gain a clear understanding of the challenges they are facing and the obstacles they need to overcome. This awareness provides a solid foundation for taking decisive action and making informed decisions to address the situation effectively.

I often find myself nudging my team to see criticism in a new light. You know, when things are going smoothly, nobody bats an eye—it's expected. But the moment there's a hiccup, the critiques start flying. For us in HR, who really take things to heart, it can sting. But here's a game-changer I discovered. I said to my girls: if people didn't think we had the chops to do better, they wouldn't bother pointing out where we're falling short. They're basically saying they believe in us, expecting more because they know we're capable. And you know what? They're right. We can absolutely rise to the occasion".

I firmly believe that instilling a deeper sense of meaning and purpose can profoundly align and empower teams to navigate crises with resilience. The second step in cultivating team resilience involves reframing the crisis as a challenge rather than a threat. By infusing the situation with purpose, teams can perceive challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. Encourage your team to identify the broader significance of their work and how it contributes to a larger purpose or mission. By fostering a growth mindset grounded in purpose and meaning, teams can emerge from crises stronger, more resilient, and united in their shared purpose.

Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and mutual support within the team. They emphasize the importance of working together to overcome challenges, share ideas, and leverage each other's strengths. Team members are encouraged to support one another, share resources, and collaborate on solutions.

Positive reframing or having the Pollyanna perspective is a choice and requires a lot of mindfulness and practice. It is shifting one’s thinking to the reality that there is always a solution to every problem. With this mindset, the team will instead focus on thinking of the different alternatives, possible work around, an out of the box approach then moving forward. There js no time to reflect on the dark side of the situation because the focus is on crafting resolutions and creating opportunities.

Provide resources and training opportunities to help team members develop resilience skills, such as stress management, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Offer workshops, webinars, or online courses on topics related to resilience, mental health and well-being.

Resilience is also closely tied to self-compassion, which involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding during difficult times. A resilient mindset encourages individuals to practice self-compassion, acknowledging their own humanity and imperfections while maintaining a sense of optimism and self-belief.

As a coach, you can encourage open communication by creating a safe space for team members to express their concerns and ideas. Encourage empathy by urging team members to listen to and support each other. To develop resilience, focus on setting achievable goals and celebrating small victories, boosting morale and confidence. Remember, resilience is built over time, so be patient and consistently provide guidance and support

In times of crisis, nurturing optimism and gratitude can indeed help cultivate resilience within a team. Encouraging team members to focus on positive aspects, express gratitude for strengths and resources, and maintain an optimistic outlook can foster resilience and a sense of hope amid challenges. Provide opportunities for reflection and sharing of achievements and successes, reinforcing the team's ability to overcome obstacles and adapt to change. Additionally, offer support and resources for managing stress, promoting self-care practices, and fostering a supportive team culture based on empathy, collaboration, and mutual respect. By fostering optimism and gratitude, teams can develop resilience and navigate crises with greater strength.

To cultivate resilience within your team during a crisis, establish open communication channels, provide perspective on the situation, and offer support resources for mental well-being. Encourage collaboration and teamwork, lead by example, and celebrate successes to foster a positive environment. Promote a growth mindset, framing challenges as opportunities for learning and development, to instill resilience and adaptability within your team members.

I can give several examples on this topic because during my HR career I had many projects that needed a high dose of resilience. But I will give a practical example when I was the Covid19 Crisis Committee Team Lead for 2 years. It was a resilience top challenge: for myself and for others through me. In the uncertainty of the situation, I had to stay calm, positive, reliable in the constant communications that I need to deliver to all the 250 people, listen many times just for the sake of it, understanding doubts, resolving problems personal and professionally, continue doing my usual job to maintain the service, and sticking to my determination to be positive for myself and my family. So basically the message here is lead by example.