Team Building in a VUCA World
Here at Success Labs we use the term VUCA a lot – meaning Volatile/Uncertain/Complex/Ambiguous situations that impact the business environment and cause teams to struggle. Examples of VUCA events include global pandemics, hurricanes and other natural disasters, market shifts, labor shortages, etc. VUCA situations can vary by industry, but they almost always challenge teams and put stress on the working environment.
We can’t predict VUCA events – and it sometimes feels like a new one pops up every week. In today’s world, it’s important to recognize that investing in team building shouldn’t stop due to this month’s challenge. In fact, consistent team building is precisely what builds stronger, more effective teams during times of turbulence and ambiguity. Today, I want to talk to you about how to approach team building during a challenging time – and how to continue to maintain a strong team environment when the challenge passes.
Use the Challenge
Challenge periods can be so overwhelming that sometimes people forget that good things often come from them. For example, walking through fire together has a way of building trust, camaraderie, openness, and innovation in teams. But without good leadership and crisis management, these periods can also lead to burnout and break teams apart. Below I’m sharing some tips for leading teams and helping them come out stronger through a challenge or crisis event.
Leadership Matters
How you lead a team through a challenge can either bring them together, or isolate and burn them out. Regularly check on your people and ask them how they are doing… and keep asking them. Challenge causes stretching and growth, which is often uncomfortable and stressful in the moment. Teams and individuals will likely need more face time and guidance in the thick of a VUCA situation.
Focus on Growth and Development
No team can thrive in crisis forever. It’s a leaders’ job to keep teams focused on the end game, where the skills they’ve learned in challenge will strengthen and solidify.
The end game could be focusing on how the challenge is helping to improve processes, challenge norms or grow skills. Hold regular development discussions with your team members about their career interests, professional goals, and potential career paths within the organization. Once you know more about their goals, a challenging time can provide opportunities for them to grow and develop.
Engage the Team
Communicate openly and transparently when difficult situations arise, delegate tasks so that the primary work burden doesn’t fall on one person or group, and invite your team to brainstorm solutions to problems. The “we’re all in this together” mentality is a strong team foundation that will help you be resilient through crises. Model that mindset and let your team know that you trust, value, and support them.
Build Teamwork
Going through crises together can make teams stronger and more resilient for the future. A truly resilient team is one that’s able to communicate effectively, work as a team, share responsibility, support each other, and turn to one another for help and answers when the situation is unclear.
Resilient Teams are Strong Teams
If you are effective at building strong teams in the midst of VUCA situations, the next challenge that arises will not present as much stress and disruption for your people. In the long run, this makes teams, individual leaders, and the organization stronger and more competitive.
Success Labs is a leadership development and management consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to grow leaders, build teams and drive results through great people strategy. Contact us to get proactive about expanding your company’s potential, and stay up-to-date with our latest news and leadership development updates here.