Resourcefulness-Creating Something from Seemingly Thin Air!

The Surprising Power of Resourcefulness

Welcome to October’s edition of Transform and Thrive! As someone who's spent almost forty years in post-secondary education, I've witnessed firsthand how exercising your resourcefulness muscles can accelerate your professional journey. Resourcefulness is a critical skill that often doesn't get the spotlight or recognition it deserves. In this article, join me in defining resourcefulness, learning how to spot resourcefulness, understanding why honing the skill can enhance your career and leadership, and finally, how to improve your resourcefulness.?

Resourcefulness in Action

I'll never forget when the pandemic hit, forcing us as educators to convert and move our courses online rapidly. The resourcefulness I witnessed from the faculty was truly inspiring. For example, one faculty member, who had never taught online before, decided to use Zoom to emulate what she considered crucial face-to-face interaction. Instead of panicking, she spent the entire weekend before classes started, practicing on the Zoom platform with family and friends to get it just right for her students the following week. That's resourcefulness in action – taking what you have and making it work, no matter the circumstances.

Why Does Resourcefulness Matter in Your Career?

In my years of observing and working beside successful colleagues, I've learned that resourcefulness often sets people apart and makes them stand out as key contributors to a team. These are the characteristics that I've noticed and strived to emulate during my career:

It's problem-solving on steroids: When you're resourceful, you don't just solve problems – you find creative solutions that others miss. Those new solutions often become standard operating procedures for you and offer an additional tool in your personal and professional toolbox.?

It makes you adaptable:?We all know that change is the only constant in our lives. Situations, organizational directions, and the availability of resources can all change in the blink of an eye, and being able to pivot quickly is invaluable. Individuals who cannot adapt to change may, at best, be roadblocks and, at worst, millstones around an organization's neck.

It breeds further innovation: Some of the most creative ideas I've seen come from people forced to work with limited resources outside their typical everyday environments. The lack of familiar resources forces us to think outside the box.?

It's cost-effective:?The ability to do more with less is a skill every employer values. Anyone can throw budget dollars at a challenge or hire a consultant to "resolve" an issue. Employees who instead can solve problems using existing resources are "golden."

Real People, Real Resourcefulness

I've seen countless examples of resourcefulness during my career, but one stands out in particular:

A group of four students who couldn't afford to individually purchase the textbook for one of the classes I was leading created a study group. The group all pitched in to buy one textbook. The individual members were assigned specific chapters in that textbook, and the book rotated from member to member. The designated member became responsible for devouring the contents of their assigned chapter, created an outline of the materials, and "taught" the contents of that chapter to the rest of the students in the group. This solution removed a constraint, and I had four built-in teaching assistants. Would it have worked for everyone? No, yet these four individuals committed to making it work.

This example always makes me smile and reminds me that resourcefulness isn't about having everything – it's about making the most of what you do have.

Developing Resourcefulness

So, how can you cultivate this skill? Developing resourcefulness takes time, patience, and effort, just like building any skill.

First, learn, learn, and then learn some more. Read whatever you can get your hands on and make reading a daily habit. Some people set a page goal, and if reading is not your forte, consider watching content-based YouTube videos. The key is always to continue learning. Choose a variety of topics with the primary goal of selecting books, articles, and videos that interest you. Why? The more we know, the more tools we will have in our problem-solving toolkit when we are tapped to exercise our resourcefulness muscles.

Second, continually push yourself outside your comfort zone and take a chance on your idea or solution. What is the worst that could happen? It doesn't work? In that case, you are no worse off than when you started. However, when we take a chance on our idea, and it works, we will have a solution for today and a lifetime.?

Next, examine your mindset and exercise your resilience muscle. When we face a limitation, more often time than not, we are also presented with a choice. We can throw up our hands and walk away, or we can view that limitation as a challenge to be creative or a puzzle to solve. Coincidentally, both options can deplete our energy. Yet, only one of the options will provide us with a sense of accomplishment.??

Finally, network and continuously grow your circle of relationships. Build diverse networks because you never know where your next solution might come from. And feel free to utilize the network that you are building. That's its purpose. The next time you run up against a situation that impedes your progress, reach out to a member or members of your network and ask for their help. They will be flattered that you asked, and my experience has been that if they can't help me, more likely than not, they will be able to connect me with someone in their network who can answer my question or brainstorm a solution.

Leading with Resourcefulness and Fostering it Across an Organization

Whether you're in an executive leadership role, find yourself "leading from the middle," or are an informal leader, you are in a position to foster resourcefulness in your team or with your coworkers. Exercising your resourcefulness muscle and leading by example can significantly impact those you rely on daily. No matter where you find yourself in an organization, you have the ability to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, celebrate innovative solutions, and partner with your people to tackle diverse challenges.

It's worth repeating one last time as I close this edition of Transform and Thrive...resourcefulness isn't a trait you're born with – it's a skill you develop. In my experience, it's among the top valuable investments we can make in ourselves and our careers.?

I'd love to hear from you about times when resourcefulness has made a difference in your personal or professional life. Feel free to share your stories – they might inspire someone else to tap into their resourceful nature.

I sincerely hope my newsletter article provided some value or comfort to you. Life is hard, and it certainly isn’t for “sissies.” Having a thought partner to walk beside you is one way that you can accelerate your growth and get your dream job/career. I can be that partner. If you’re ready to transform your career, leadership, and quality of life, I can help you. The origins of your success already lie within you! My coaching services will help you discover or rediscover your passion and purpose using proven techniques and methods. Connect with me at www.originsofsuccess.com or [email protected]

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