Some teams crumble. Others devour each other. Masks come off during crisis. Resilient teams adapt, recover, and emerge stronger.
Resilient teams don’t simply survive; they thrive.
Personal grit isn’t team resilience. Here’s how gritty teams are built.
7 Ways to Build Resilient Teams
#1. Ask, “What Could Go Wrong”
Prepared teams thrive. They talk about what could go wrong. Emergency service teams rehearse for a crisis. You might not do a rehearsal but occasionally ask:
- What will we do if we lose a major customer?
- What issues are we brushing aside that might bite us later?
- What’s our approach if there’s another pandemic?
Rehearsal bolsters resilence.
#2. Adapt in Real Time
Resilience isn’t rigidity. Gritty teams shift gears when conditions change.
- Share or shift responsibilities.
- Loosen rules when flexibility serves the mission.
- Ask, What’s one thing we can adjust today?
#3. Lose Drama
Drama makes urgency worse. Crisis doesn’t require chaos. Communicate clearly, quickly, and calmly. Use simple language.
- Keep people in the loop.
- Say what you know. Don’t wait until you know everything.
- Communicate even when nothing changes. Silence leads to speculation.
#4 Learn Out Loud
Investigate why something worked or why it didn’t.
- Hold timely after-action reviews.
- Explore surprises.
- Consider what to do differently next time.
#5. Call Time-Out
Leave room to breathe.
- End meetings early.
- Chill out together.
#6. Universal Ownership
Everyone chooses what’s best for the team, even if it hurts individuals.
- Support but don’t rescue people.
- Expect everyone to contribute.
#7. Explore Ripples
One department’s problem is everyone’s problem.
Universal Question: When something goes wrong, ask, “What can we do to thrive in this situation?”
Everyone wants a team that rises up when pressure goes up. How can leaders build resilient teams?
Learn more: Where Grit Really Comes From
Source: Exploring Resilience
