My recent conversations with managers (and their bosses) confirm that resilience is becoming an increasing need at a time like this, where employees are facing the strain on multiple fronts.

The factors are common across the various organisations and companies I spoke with:

• Decreased headcount. Increased workload.
• Higher expectations. Same resources.
• More speed. Zero margin for error.

Wherever I go, I see that the people under the greatest stress are the managers themselves. And it's no wonder. The work is in itself already challenging, but it's working through people that is really wearing managers out.

Managing a team these days can be daunting

Let's just say that it's not a job for the faint-hearted. Balancing workload, explaining expectations, managing performance... the list is endless, and the situation is in constant flux. And just when you've fought one battle, a new fire starts raging!

At this rate, it seems like managers themselves will need some sort of managerial resilience training (and yes, there is such a thing!)

What are your options?

Yet the most valuable work can only be done through people. So what's a smart people manager to do? What are your options? You can:

• Decide to do everything yourself (a sure way to achieve burn-out)
• Delegate and manage performance, but still pick up the pieces yourself (not the most efficient way to work)
• Quit or transfer to a post that does not require people management (not an option for most people, as most jobs require some form of people management)
• Or you can learn how to build up your own managerial resilience and increase your team's resilience!

One thing you don't have is TIME!

Doesn’t that sound like something you already know? But I am not referring to you; I am talking about building resilience.

Time is of the essence when building resilience. Resilience is like a muscle. It must be built up over time. Yes, exercising that muscle takes effort, but if you wait till something happens  before you exercise it, you might end up losing the use of that muscle.

What happens then? You would then have to regain and relearn the use of that muscle through painstaking physiotherapy.  It will cost you much more time, money and effort to rebuild resilience than it does to build it today.

At the risk of sounding ominous, this is the mistake I see managers make over and over again is: Too little, too slow, too late. After all, there is only so much stress a person, a team or an organisation can take. Eventually (usually sooner than managers expect), something somewhere will give away, and to rebuild resilience later will be more painful than building it now.

You get the picture. So don’t put it off. Wise managers start building resilience today!

How much time is resilience worth?

Managers, being busy people, don't have a lot of time. How much time are you willing to invest to build your team's resilience? How much time do you think that resilience (and your success as a people manager) is worth?

• Three days?
• One full day?
• How about 3 hours?
  

In response to our clients' repeated requests, LifeWorkz has designed a half-day course called Increasing Your Team's Resilience - For Managers, and we will be offering a public run of this course on May 22.

In just half a day, you will:

• Master the research on resilience --- the proven factors that build or break down a team's resilience
• Gain new perspectives for increasing your team's resilience
• Learn new strategies for building a resilient team while achieving results and reaching your goals.

LifeWorkz: A Comprehensive Resilience Strategy

That's not all. LifeWorkz has been providing thought leadership, consultancy and training on resilience since 2004 ---- long before it became a buzzword in the current crisis.

Our work on Resilience is based on long-standing research undertaken by experts in the US, and applied discerningly to the Asian context. LifeWorkz has a comprehensive Resilience Strategy that will help you build resilience at every level of your organisation:

> Building Personal Resilience

Equip your employees to build their personal resilience and thrive in the midst of increased demands and challenges.

> Building Team Resilience

Equip your employees with tools that will build their resilience as a team.

> Building Managerial Resilience

Help your managers build their managerial resilience amidst the pressures of people management.

> Building Organisational Resilience

Learn how you as a senior manager or HR director can enhance and increase your organisation’s resilience through its infrastructure, culture and processes.

LifeWorkz: Championing Resilience for Individuals & Organisations

LifeWorkz has been providing thought leadership, consultancy and training on resilience since 2004 ---- long before it became a buzzword in the current crisis.

Our work on Resilience is based on long-standing research undertaken by experts in the US, and applied discerningly to the Asian context. 

Let us help you build resilience at every level of your organisation! 

When the going gets rough, the tough get resilient!

Cheryl

Invite Cheryl Liew-Chng to speak at your organization!

Need a speaker for your company event? Need cutting-edge training for your staff? With the LifeWorkz team, there is never a dull moment! Contact LifeWorkz today!

All our programmes can be conducted in-house and customized for your organization.

Or you can send your staff for an open or 'public' programme when it is available.

Either way, email us today at Solutions@LifeWorkz.org to indicate your interest!