#11 Building Resilience & Adaptability

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adaptability is the capacity to embrace and thrive in change. These are not just buzzwords in contemporary leadership; they are important skills for modern managers as 21st Century leaders. In this chapter we will explore how a line manager can confront adversity head-on, using setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. We will explore the intricacies of resilience and adaptability, their definitions, components, and the impact they have on leadership effectiveness. We will look at some practical tools and strategies to help line managers assess and develop these essential traits within themselves and their teams.

Understanding Resilience

Resilience is about facing difficult situations, stressors, or trauma and emerging stronger, wiser, and more capable. Resilience is not a fixed trait but a dynamic skill that can be developed and strengthened over time.

Kendra Cherry, writing for Very Well Mind in 2022 said “A resilient person is someone who has strong coping skills and is able to marshal their available resources, ask for help when needed, and find ways to manage the situation they are facing”.

Some key components of resilience are:

Emotional Intelligence

The capacity to recognise, understand, and manage your emotions effectively, especially during stressful or challenging situations. Emotional Intelligence has been covered in previous chapters in this series of management techniques but it is just as important to note here when it comes to understanding resilience.

Positive Thinking

Often, the human response to a difficult situation is a negative one. Positive thinking is the ability to pause, reframe your mind and maintain a positive outlook. Let the frustration go and look for the way forward, find silver linings, and cultivate optimism. This switch helps to reduce stress meaning that you are able to cope with the situation much more easily.

Adaptability

This is the skill to adjust to changing circumstances. Adaptability enables you to be flexible in problem-solving and embrace change as an opportunity for growth. Without this you will likely come to a halt or regard yourself as having failed in your task. Sometimes things change outside of our control, so it is necessary to find a new way forward. Leadership teams talk about ‘emergent strategies’ which is the same thing for you in your work. If the plan has changed, then so will you. We will look at this in more detail shortly.

Problem-Solving Skills

It is good to recognise having the capability to analyse problems and to make rational decisions. This means that when a challenge is presented, part of being resilient and adaptable is being able to develop an effective strategy to overcome obstacles.

Self-Care

As we have seen before, prioritising self-care practices such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy nutrition can enhance resilience by improving overall well-being.

Understanding Adaptability

According to McKinsey in their article “Solving the ‘adaptability paradox’ for the long term", wellbeing is at the heart of becoming more adaptable. To maintain calm under pressure it is important to recognise the need for emotional flexibility. McKinsey links adaptability to greater levels of learning ability which leads to better performance, confidence and creative output.

So what do we need to know in order to improve our adaptability?

Jacqueleine Brassey and Aaren De Smet (HBR 2023) note that our instincts are to continue to adopt what has worked for us in the past. In high pressure situations we become anxious, so we default to this position rather than look for creative ways to resolve any new situations that we find ourselves in. What we should be doing is practicing ‘Deliberate Calm’ which is to take a deep breath and take stock of the situation, deciding to look at things rationally. In practice, this is likely to take you out of your comfort zone so if appropriate you can always seek support to find the right way forward.

Ways to manage yourself and improve adaptability include:

Be calm

Take a moment to think about what the situation is and how best to resolve it.

Listen to others

If you have become anxious about the situation, it is important to make sure that you listen to others who may be involved or may have ideas. Anxiety can lead us to feel overwhelmed and want to block out others so you can think more clearly but by taking a calm approach and listening to others you can then make a more informed decision about what to do next.

Ask for support

Others may not have contributed towards the solution as yet which is not a problem. Seek out those that may be able to assist and ask for support. Being adaptable is knowing the right way forward and then having the confidence to follow that path so by discussing it with others this will give you the courage and confidence to try new things.

Don’t be scared to make mistakes

People learn from mistakes and sometimes this is the catalyst for change.

Have a growth mindset

Being open to learning new things is not always natural so a conscious effort should be made to remember that when we face challenges, we can learn how to resolve them rather than feel that we should always have the answers through instinct.

The Benefits to Line Managers

Being more adaptable and resilient as a Line Manager brings many benefits to you and your team. One of the most obvious is the ability to improve your decision making. Learning adaptability and building resilience enables you to take that step back when needed so you can fully assess the situation before making decisions.

Being adaptable and resilient allows you to approach decision-making with greater emotional control, flexibility, confidence, and with a focus on long-term goals. These qualities enable you to make more informed, balanced, and effective decisions in both challenging and changing situations.

Let’s look at an example of this in practice.

Imagine that you are a line manager responsible for a sales team in a highly competitive industry. Your team has been consistently achieving their sales targets, but recently, a sudden change in market conditions has resulted in a significant drop in sales.

As an adaptable leader, you recognise the need to assess the situation quickly and adjust your strategy. Instead of panicking or becoming discouraged, you gather data on the market shift, such as changing customer preferences and emerging competitors. You also engage your team in brainstorming sessions to identify potential solutions.

During this challenging time, you remain emotionally composed and encourage your team to stay motivated. You acknowledge the setback but frame it as an opportunity for growth. You share stories of past challenges your team has overcome, highlighting their resilience and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Your adaptability allows you to explore alternative sales channels and diversify your product offerings to meet evolving customer needs. You decide to invest in additional training for your sales team to equip them with the skills needed to address the new market challenges effectively.

You weigh the risks and benefits of each potential strategy carefully, considering factors like cost, expected return, and feasibility. This thoughtful analysis helps you make an informed decision about which changes to implement.

Recognising that you don't have all the answers, you involve your team in the decision-making process. You listen to their suggestions and incorporate their input into the new sales strategy. This collaborative approach strengthens their commitment to the chosen course of action.

While you acknowledge the immediate need to address the sales decline, you also keep your long-term vision in mind. You aim to build a sales team that is not only resilient in the face of challenges but also adaptable to future market fluctuations.

Through your adaptability and resilience, you lead your team through the market downturn successfully. Sales begin to recover as the team implements the new strategies and adapts to the changing market landscape. Your team's confidence remains intact, and they emerge from the situation stronger and better equipped to handle future challenges.

How to assess your resilience

Assessing your resilience as a line manager involves a thoughtful self-evaluation process that helps you understand your current level of resilience and identify areas for improvement. Here are some steps you can take to assess your resilience:

Self-Reflection

Begin by setting aside some quiet, uninterrupted time for self-reflection. Consider your recent experiences and how you've handled challenges, setbacks, and stressful situations. Think about both work-related and personal situations.

Self-Assessment Tools

There are several self-assessment tools and questionnaires designed to measure resilience on the market. These tools often provide a structured framework and scoring system to evaluate your resilience traits and can be used to measure progress over time.

Keep a Journal

Maintain a journal where you record your thoughts and emotions during challenging situations. This can help you gain insights into your emotional responses and coping strategies.

Seek Feedback

Ask for feedback from colleagues, managers, or team members who have observed your responses to adversity. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights into your resilience strengths and areas that may need improvement.

Review Past Experiences

Consider past instances where you faced adversity and overcame challenges. Reflect on how you managed those situations and what you learned from them.

Consult a Professional

If you have access to a coach or counsellor, consider seeking their guidance. They can provide a more in-depth assessment of your resilience through interviews and psychological assessments.

To fully grasp the importance of being resilient and adaptable, it's essential to consider a few additional points. Continuous Change is Inevitable. Industries, technologies, and markets are in a state of flux. Being resilient and adaptable isn't just an advantage; it's a necessity for staying relevant and thriving in your personal and professional life.

As a leader, your ability to lead by example is crucial. When you exhibit resilience and adaptability, you inspire your team to do the same. You set the tone for your organisation's culture, making it more agile and better equipped to face challenges.

Resilience is closely linked to mental health and well-being. When you're resilient, you're better equipped to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. By building resilience, you can create a healthier work environment for yourself and your team.

In an adaptable work environment, individuals are more likely to experiment with new ideas and approaches. This helps to build a culture of innovation, where creative solutions can flourish, giving your organisation a competitive edge.

Resilience helps you endure hardships, setbacks, and failures without giving up. It's a vital trait for achieving long-term goals and maintaining motivation even when the path gets tough.

Being adaptable allows you to pivot when necessary. You can seize new opportunities, learn from changes, and embrace emerging trends. This adaptability can lead to personal and professional growth that might otherwise be missed.

Resilient individuals often have healthier relationships because they can manage conflicts and setbacks more effectively. Your ability to navigate interpersonal challenges can positively impact your professional network and personal life.

In a dynamic job market, being adaptable can open doors to new career opportunities. Employers value individuals who can quickly learn and adapt to new roles, industries, and technologies.

The good news is that both resilience and adaptability can be developed and strengthened through intentional effort and practice. Anyone can improve these skills over time.

Key takeaways:

Line managers must cultivate resilience and adaptability to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the modern workplace effectively.
Resilience involves the ability to bounce back from setbacks, learn from adversity, and remain composed under pressure. It's a skill that can be developed and honed over time.
Adaptability is the capacity to embrace change, pivot when necessary, and view disruptions as opportunities for growth and innovation.
Resilient and adaptable line managers make better decisions by maintaining emotional balance, flexible thinking, and making informed choices in the face of uncertainty.
Resilience and adaptability inspire trust and confidence in your team. Your example as a resilient and adaptable leader can motivate your team to develop these qualities as well.
Building resilience and adaptability is a long-term investment. These traits not only help you weather storms but also position you and your team for sustained success in an ever-changing world.
Resilience and adaptability are skills that can be developed and improved through ongoing self-reflection, learning, and practice.
As a line manager, your demonstration of resilience and adaptability can have a profound impact on your team's culture, performance, and ability to thrive in change.
Resilience enhances mental well-being by helping you manage stress and adversity effectively, creating a healthier work environment.
An adaptable work environment encourages creativity and innovation, positioning your organisation to respond to challenges with creative solutions.
The benefits of resilience and adaptability extend far beyond your professional life, improving your personal relationships, health, and overall quality of life.