The ability to adapt and respond to change is crucial for any organization. A resilient work culture enables an organization to navigate through difficult times, thrive during uncertainty, and emerge stronger. In an industry where workplace violence is on the rise, a resilient work culture also enables employees to overcome post-incident consequences and bounce back from setbacks, both individually and collectively. In this blog post, we will explore some strategies that can help your organization build a resilient work culture.
How to lead when my team has gone through violent incidents?
Post-incident response can be tricky, especially when you already have an industry with a background with high rates of workplace violence. So if we had to put it into 3 steps, they would be as follows:
- Recognize that your leadership style might need to change, responding to your employees' concerns.
- Look out for the internal forces that may have caused the problem, not everything from outside is to blame.
- Analyze and understand the new type of leadership that’s required and take action in the new mode.
What else can be done?
A resilient work culture not only benefits the organization but also the employees, by promoting their well-being and helping them thrive during difficult times. So you can also keep in mind the following recommendations.
- Develop a strong leadership team. Those who lead well should inspire their employees and provide a sense of direction by encouraging open communication and listening to employees while providing a sense of direction that leads to a work environment that promotes resilience.
- Foster a positive work environment. Employees should feel valued, supported, and encouraged. Recognizing and rewarding good work, promoting open communication and a sense of belonging help build a sense of community within the organization.
- Encourage learning and development. Learning and development opportunities can help employees develop the skills they need to cope with change and adapt to new situations. Organizations should provide training and development opportunities that help employees build new skills so that they can feel more engaged and motivated and overcome challenging situations.
- Build strong relationships. Strong relationships can help employees feel more supported and connected. Building trust and strong relationships can help employees be more resilient during difficult times. This can be reached through transparent and proper lines of communication.
- Emphasize the importance of work-life balance. Even when healthcare is an industry that never stops working, promoting breaks, prioritizing self-care, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be beneficial when overcoming workplace incidents. Employees who are overworked and stressed are more likely to burn out and become less resilient.
Both setbacks and successes need to be seen as positive learning experiences, you need to take action in both. Remember your employees need to feel acknowledged, you are key when developing resilient work cultures.
By taking a nonjudgmental posture with staff, openly admitting your own and the organization’s mistakes, and breaking down bureaucratic and social barriers, you are one step closer to engaging with the people you lead.