I recently worked with a leadership team struggling with a number of structural and interpersonal issues that were extracting a huge cost in terms of lost productivity, lack of synergy, diminished financial performance - not to mention the emotional costs for team members. Observing this team lead me to reflect on the impact of teams on the capacity of individual team members to sustain a sense of resilience in facing adversity from other sources, such as customer demands or financial pressures. Teams in organizations can play an instrumental role in enhancing the functioning of leaders and helping them resiliently cope with adversity and challenging times. Two research studies I conducted suggest this to be the case. In particular, research I conducted in New Orleans with managers who thrived during Hurricane Katrina illustrated how well functioning leadership teams had such a positive impact on the capacity of team members to successfully bounce back and actually grow through the experience. In many organizations, work teams became surrogate families as many organizational managers and staff lived in the workplace during the recovery from the Katrina crisis. In this issue, I explore the nature of teams and resilience, review a useful book on leadership resilience, and preview upcoming speaking events. Here's to an abundant spring! |
Leaders That Thrive: Impacts of High-Functioning Teams |
The crisis that surrounded Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing floods in 2005 vividly demonstrated the impacts of what happens when adversity overwhelms the ability of humans to cope and respond. Yet, despite this adversity, t here were countless untold stories of hope and resilience among leaders and managers who enabled organizations to reopen. One of the major contributing factors for organizational recovery after the crisis was the functioning of individual leaders supported by well-functioning teams before, during and after the crisis. Managers thrived partly because of the support they received in high functioning teams.
In this article, I will explore how high functioning leadership teams help promote resilience and thriving among individual members, along with specifc actions leaders can take to improve the functioning of their management teams when faced with adversity. I draw upon a study I conducted for my 2008 dissertation research in New Orleans which examined the experiences of middle managers that thrived during Hurricane Katrina. Click here for the complete article. |
| In Print: The Beethoven Factor |
The Beethoven Factor: The new positive psychology of hardiness, happiness, healing and hope
Hampton Roads Publishing: 2003
By Paul Pearsall, PhD
The composer Beethoven serves as the icon for Pearsall's book based on the way in which he overcame and was transformed by adversity. Despite losing his hearing, Beethoven subsequently composed his Ninth "Ode to Joy" symphony.
The author makes a strong distinction in this book on how resilience and thriving differ, then provides numerous practical strategies to thrive in the face of adversity. He draws upon his own experience as a cancer survivor as well as the stories of individuals with whom he has worked. Drawing upon many of the established theories of resilience and thriving, including hardiness, Pearsall also includes a thrivability test based.
Pearsall's book is a highly-readable and practical resource for leaders and managers interested in building their capacity to truly grow through the challenges they face.
|
Nourse Leadership Strategies is an organizational development and executive coaching professional services firm based in Washington, DC. We offer executive coaching, organization development consulting, training, and facilitation services to help organizations, teams, and leaders thrive.
For more information, contact Dr. Kevin Nourse at 202.462.6252 or Kevin@nourseleadership.com
|
|
|
|
