Guest Commentator: Katie Iorio, Franchise President, Dale Carnegie @DaleCarnegie
How can organizations support resilience during times of crisis and uncertainty?
Here we are, right in the middle of uncertainty and, for some, crisis. How we do business and how we live is changing so quickly in ways we could not have imagined a short time ago. And right in the middle of all this uncertainty is the resurgence of the value of people and relationships.
When we seek to support and cultivate resilience in our organizations, let’s first seek to connect on a deeper level with people. Staying connected with our team members, employees, customers, and vendors provides a safety net that allows people to move forward, make decisions, act in the best interest of others, and be able to see what is possible. In other words, to be resilient!
Consider what you’re able to do right now to ensure your team feels valued, is participating in dialogue around how you perform your jobs in our current reality, and has a voice in your moving-forward strategy. These answers will vary depending on how an organization or department/team is structured and being impacted by current forces. This is not a cookie-cutter strategy. Rather, it requires leaders to reflect on each team member to meet them where they are and lead them to a place where they can contribute within the uncertainty while preparing them for what comes next.
Let’s explore four strategies to implement for supporting resilience within our teams and organizations.
- Communicate with team members on a regular basis, both one-on-one and as a group: Take time to see how each person and their family is doing on a personal level and remove barriers quickly. Use technology to have fun with this and build teamwork. Remember to pick up the phone too! Lead from a human perspective; be compassionate and understanding. This works well with customers and peers also.
- Consider what your organization is doing to keep people informed and explore how you might be able to improve: Our current environment is evolving daily. Decisions are made quickly, so being in front of internal communication allows your team to feel valued, confident, and better prepared to do their work and take care of customers. Perhaps an increase in frequency is needed. Consider how the information is being conveyed and what else can be added to foster resilience — perhaps “all hands-on deck” virtual meetings for brainstorming or video updates from senior leadership for a more personal connection.
- Create opportunities for employees to provide input on the strategy for moving forward: Lead from the Dale Carnegie perspective that “People support a world they help create.” Tap into their ideas and creativity. Input from throughout the organization will allow for innovation in ways that might not have been visible or possible previously.
- Reflect on what we are learning from this experience: Our businesses will evolve from this current uncertainty and crisis. Be present, listen, and reflect on our experiences. Challenge yourself and your team members to learn and grow personally and professionally. Allow for learning and development opportunities now, during the uncertainty. Then we can bring our best self to our new future.
Coming through a challenging time as a group builds trust and respect within the team which serves as a springboard for future challenges and innovation. As we evolve our business processes to survive or thrive in our current environment, enhancing our people processes will ensure positive outcomes for our team and the business.
For more information on supporting resilience in your organization, download our white paper or watch our pre-recorded webinar on handling stress and supporting resilience in times of crisis.
Dale Carnegie is a global training and development organization specializing in leadership, communication, human relations, and sales training solutions. We are here to help individuals, leaders, and organizations adapt to current and future environments. Our robust virtual, instructor lead digital library allows organizations the flexibility to ensure leaders have their skills they need now and in the future.
Dale Carnegie is a member of the Chamber’s Talent Action Team, a group of 140+ Chamber members focused on creating clear pathways for the alignment between individuals and employers to assure that we are training and engaging the region’s current and future leaders.
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