When unexpected challenges hit your team, who bounces back quickly, and who struggles to adapt? The difference often comes down to resilience. It can seem like an innate quality some people simply have — a fixed personality trait rather than a learnable skill.
But research tells us something different. It suggests resilience isn’t fixed — it’s a skill we can develop and strengthen over time.
What Is Resilience?
At its core, resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. It’s also the ability to adapt well to change and keep going in the face of adversity.
In the workplace, resilient employees can:
- Navigate stressful situations
- Maintain productivity during periods of change
- Emerge from challenges with their well-being intact
Resilient teams adapt to market shifts, overcome setbacks, and continue to innovate even when faced with obstacles.
Why Does Building Resilience Matter?
We’ve all experienced how quickly circumstances can change. The pandemic was a stark reminder of that. But even in typical times, we face unexpected shifts — from budget cuts to staff turnover to market fluctuations.
Teams that adapt quickly are simply more effective.
The benefits are measurable. Research from the American Psychological Association found that resilient employees experience:
- Less burnout
- Fewer negative impacts from work-related stress
The same research indicated that companies with strong workplace cultures that support mental wellness see better retention rates.
3 Approaches To Build Resilience
1. Lead with Empathy
Empathy creates the foundation for resilience. When team members feel understood and supported, they’re better equipped to handle challenges.
What does empathy look like in practice? It’s:
- Listening to understand, not just to respond
- Asking questions about others’ perspectives
- Making yourself approachable for difficult conversations
- Acknowledging emotions, even when you can’t solve the problem
UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine notes that strong social relationships help us “feel less stress when we are suffering.” This is a key component of resilience.
This approach helps your whole team, not just individuals. Teams that genuinely care for one another tend to work better together. They also come up with better solutions and feel safer speaking up when things aren’t working. These are all essential ingredients for bouncing back from challenges.
During your next team check-in, ask the following:
| “What’s been challenging lately?” |
Then, listen without immediately jumping to solutions.
Follow up with:
| “What support would be most helpful right now?” |
This demonstrates your commitment to understanding their needs.
2. Be Transparent About Uncertainty
When facing change or challenges, our instinct might be to shield our team from bad news or uncertainty. However, this approach typically backfires. When information is lacking, people fill the gaps with speculation (usually assuming the worst).
Change management expert William Bridges identifies 4 questions people need the answers to during periods of change:
- Purpose: Why is this change happening?
- Picture: What will the end result look like?
- Plan: What steps will get us there?
- Part: What’s my role in this process?
Great leaders are straightforward about what they know and what they’re still figuring out. This kind of honesty builds trust, which is especially important during tough times.
When communicating changes, address all 4 questions, even if your answer to some is:
| “We’re still figuring that out, and here’s when we’ll know more.” |
3. Practice Solving Problems Together
Like any skill, problem-solving improves with practice. Teams that regularly work through challenges together develop collective resilience.
Effective approaches include:
- Bringing diverse perspectives to the table
- Creating space for multiple solutions
- Reflecting on what worked (and what didn’t) after resolving issues
- Celebrating small wins along the way
Think of it like building strength at the gym. You don’t start with the heaviest weights.
When teams work through small challenges together, they get better at problem-solving. They also gain confidence in their ability to handle bigger issues when they arise. Each small win creates a foundation for tackling whatever comes next.
Consider implementing regular scenario planning exercises.
Ask your team:
| “What would we do if X happened?” |
Or:
| “How would we adapt if our budget was cut by 20%?” |
These hypothetical situations help build the mental pathways needed when real challenges emerge.
Final Thoughts
Building resilience (in yourself or your team) doesn’t happen overnight. It develops through consistent practice and intentional effort. Choose 1 small action from this blog to implement this week. Notice what works, adjust as needed, and build from there.
With practice, both you and your team will get better at bouncing back from whatever comes your way.