Two steps to creating a resilient business

My team and I have learned A LOT over the last 14 months (looking at you Zoom!).

We have grown and evolved in ways that I never could have imagined (thanks Covid!).

Looking back I am reminded that having "a world championship team requires hiring world championship players." (thanks Yogi!).

This past year we were blessed to have marketing intern, and world championship player, Julie Sienciski, on our team.

Julie jumped right in with both feet and successfully completed new projects without hesitation. Her can-do attitude and positive demeanor were exactly what we needed during a time when things uncertain and we were in the midst of a reinvention. Julie graduated from Dickinson College this past weekend. We will miss her dearly!

Thank you Julie for all your hard work over the last year! We are excited to see where this next step of your journey takes you - we know you are destined for great things!

When I reflect back on the last year the word that keeps coming to mind is RESILIENCE.

I am proud to say that Diamond6 and my team (Julie included!) were incredibly resilient and we are now coming back better than we were before.

But, we're not done yet!

You, me, our teams, and organizations will have to continue to build and draw upon our resilience to keep on keepin' on!

I've outlined two steps (plus included a cool story) to remind us all how to build resilience.

But first, what IS resilience anyway?

Resilience is the psychological quality that allows some people and organizations to suffer setbacks from life’s adversities and come back as strong as before — if not stronger.

Rather than letting difficulties, traumatic events, or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, highly resilient people and organizations find a way to change course, emotionally heal and continue moving toward their personal and organizational goals.

It is important to remember that business resilience has two parts - organizational and individual. You must invest and build both parts in order to ensure the greatest success during challenging times.

Step 1: To encourage resilience, you must empower your team and “generate” leadership. It is essential that you create a climate where your teams feel they can make decisions. Such a climate encourages both innovation as well as initiative. Both are critical to the success of any organization during a crisis.

Quick break for the cool story…..

On September 11, 2001, over 50,000 people were evacuated from Manhattan by a fleet of boats that all operated out of individual initiative. By nightfall on that fateful day, approximately 150 different vessels, crewed by an estimated 800-plus mariners had executed a successful boatlift, with surprisingly few incidents or serious injuries. This homegrown “Dunkirk” remains far less reported than its 77-year-old counterpart even as we approach the 20th anniversary of that fateful day. Still the initiative and risks taken on by these boat captains serves as an example for leaders today.

Step 2: But empowerment requires your willingness to accept risk, just like that spontaneous effort by those boat owners and crews. Everything will not go perfectly. Mistakes and even failure are part of the learning process for individuals and organizations. You may be called upon to be a “heat shield” for your team when things go awry.

Tim Cook, head of Apple, once said that one of his main roles was blocking “the noise from the people who are really doing the work.” Still if you empower your team now, you will come out of this, and future crises, with empowered employees and a stronger organization.

How have you generated leadership in your team? How have you empowered your employees? Tell me in the comments below!