Top 4 ways to enhance your organisation's resilience

All businesses face some level of risk and there are many factors outside of our control that contribute to this risk. Ensuring your company can adapt to different situations will see it surpass any issues you run into. Be prepared for unpredictable risks by having the ability to adjust. Changes come from the economy, market and technology and companies need to be resilient to these in order to sustain a viable business. The term that coins all of this flexibility is organisational resilience and it’s imperative that it’s addressed in order for a business to succeed in the long term. These changes are no longer one offs and seem to be continuous so you should have a plan of action to acknowledge this.

1. Take Preventative Measures

In business it’s simply not good enough to take action when a problem arises. You need to nip it in the bud before it becomes an issue. Deviations are happening all of the time and your organisation should be prepared for this. Don’t simply get stung by a change and put procedures in place to come back from it. Instead you should be identifying future changes and making sure your business is adaptable enough so that if something occurs it doesn’t cause any setbacks. It’s worth assessing how it works at all levels. Traditionally the individual employee was targeted via workshops which addressed stress management. Employees Assistance Programs (EAP) were also implemented to support the wellbeing of individuals. They have demonstrated to be valuable and have proven results. These are still valid ways to approach organisational resilience. However, to enhance your businesses standing against change it’s also a good idea to look at the bigger picture and implement strategies on a broader level. Get change ready by having the knowledge, resources and an engaged team in order to thrive.

2. Get Everyone on Board

From the top of the chain to the bottom, everyone should be working towards promoting a work culture that can accommodate change. The leaders should be encouraging a healthy working environment that can easily adapt. There should be strong internal networks that ensure employees feel supported in their positions. With so much access to technology there are no excuses for not keeping your company connected and in the loop. You should communicate clearly how you are going to recognise and prepare for certain changes and the reasons for the alterations. This ensures no one is left in the dark and can get on board to make the transition easier. It takes the employees being able to get used to modifications and not being left in the dark to ensure an organisation is resilient. If you get support from the top it’s easier for this to filter down and get everyone on board.

3. Executive Support Goes a Long Way

Focus on getting the support of those in executive leadership roles as this is how you can turn change programs into successful initiatives. It’s no secret that organisational resilience relies heavily on the leaders in the company. If you can encourage leaders to be flexible they can lead by example and assist in fostering a resilient culture throughout the organisation. Gaining executive support is great but having them lead the program will get you even better results. They can complete an individual resilience program which will not only give them the ability to be accommodating leaders but also recognise the importance of following through and motivating others throughout the company. This benefits all areas of the organisation.

4. Always Have a Plan B

Problem solvers thrive off organisational resilience. Developing this skill in all levels of a company makes employees more open to using new technologies to improve efficiency. It helps to see change as something positive and inevitable in order to overcome any obstacles. If one procedure has been tried and tested, then no longer works, it helps to be able to move swiftly on to plan B. Getting stuck on plan A doesn’t help progress and employees need to be able to adapt quickly. To keep business moving forward there needs to be an organisational resilience culture present in the workplace. When implementing resilience programs in companies you should recognise the current state of the company and what you hope to achieve. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and a range of methods should be used on different levels for the best results. Make use of leadership skills and abilities to cultivate the way the workplace operates for maximum effect.