Organizational resilience is a concept that helps us understand how companies deal with changes and disruptions. An organization’s resilience in the face of adversity determines whether it will survive. In uncertain times, marked by turmoil and rapid change, organizations and their leaders must know how to navigate the storm and guide their teams through to the other side.
There are many aspects to organizational resilience and the leadership style that will help companies get through tough periods. Organizational resilience largely depends on leadership strategies, progress and sustainable development. A resilient organization led by effective managers will not only survive crises but thrive in the face of obstacles.
Those interested in this field may benefit from pursuing a dedicated program, such as the online Master of Arts (M.A.) in Organizational Management and Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. This specialized degree aims to give students leadership and management skills applicable to a variety of industries.
How to Address an Organization’s Resilience
In some cases, leaders may only realize their organization’s resilience is not up to par when disaster strikes. Ideally, management will be aware of organizational resilience and do their best to identify potential pain points well in advance of any issues.
Leadership coach Megan Wheeler spoke to Chief about increasing organizational resilience. Wheeler refers to this as increasing “bump tolerance,” a real training exercise that pilots undergo to withstand added stress in the job’s most hectic moments.
Wheeler explains that there are five main types of resilience: emotional, attentional, procedural, rotational and relational. For any leader, these types work together to affect how problems are addressed within an organization’s structure, and they have implications for individual well-being as well as the health of a work environment.
In her work as a coach, Wheeler focuses on making concentrated changes. She says, “None of us are going to be a 10/10 on all five strands of resilience, but it’s important to think through where your strengths are, because even a 10% improvement on one strand can make a huge difference. As leaders, our goal is to help people develop both their resilience and their adaptivity.” Once a leader identifies the strengths and weaknesses, these areas of resilience can be developed with care.
Organizational Resilience and Leadership Styles
Reworked identifies 13 common leadership styles. From autocratic to laissez-faire, pacesetting to transformational, there are a variety of ways in which successful leaders motivate, guide and model behaviors they would like to see from their team members.
You may be wondering how to determine your own leadership style. Reworked argues asking a different question: Which leadership styles are right for your organization? The article explains: “When it comes to selecting leadership styles, you need to be aware of your organization’s culture, goals, employees and more to determine the best fit. You also need to look at your current leadership skills and highlight any gaps you might need to fill.”
It goes on to share key questions to ask, for example: Are goals or relationships more important, and what is a healthy team dynamic? After reflecting on these questions, management may proceed to experiment with different strategies and note the results they achieve. Managers looking to grow also benefit greatly from mentorship and should ask for feedback from team members where appropriate. Southeastern’s program offers courses like Leadership Theories and Practices, Team Development Behaviors and Strategic Communication to prepare graduates to find the leadership styles that work best throughout their careers.
The Importance of Adaptability
As Wheeler touches on, adaptability is as important as resilience when it comes to both personal and business growth. The leadership coaching group Numly shares further insights on this topic in an article on increasing resilience in the “age of disruption.” Numly’s experts recommend increasing adaptability by building resilience into team structures, focusing on skill development, cultivating leaders (not followers) to foster emotional intelligence, enhance communication and support a growth mindset.
They conclude by pointing out that “Given the level of disruption we are constantly experiencing, resilience is emerging as ‘the’ skill set of the time. Resilience is … more about increased self-awareness, self-management and responsiveness to the situation and people around us. It is the innate ability of people to deal with adverse situations, withstand stress and know that ‘this too shall pass’ because they have faith in their skills, capability, and support.” To increase your own leadership capabilities and learn what resilience in the workplace is all about, Southeastern’s AACSB-accredited online M.A. in Organizational Management and Leadership is just the place to start.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online M.A. in Organizational Management and Leadership program.