2 Important Tactics to Embrace in 2021

2020 was arguably the craziest and most unprecedented year in our collective memories. The whole world was tasked with responding to a world crisis. Every country was required to respond in some way and the word “normal” now feels nostalgic.

Every industry, company, and employee has endured different rules and guidelines that were implemented to safely accommodate a new way of living and working. As we plan for 2021, the way we work will continue to evolve, and we all must continue to adapt.

Some will return to office spaces while others may insist on continuing to operate remotely. It’s difficult to pinpoint which changes will stick, but one thing we can predict is that agility and resilience will be two key ingredients to succeed in 2021.

As an example, imagine being a child… When a child learns how to ride a bike for the first time it doesn’t come easily or naturally. More than likely, that child will fall a few times because they aren’t used to balancing on a foreign device while peddling their feet, steering the handle bars, and focusing on the road ahead all at the same time.

It’s a lot to think about at once. However, children are supremely adaptable to change and they’re resilient when it comes to overcoming challenges. Perhaps you can recall a similar childhood memory of your own and channel that same dedication and determination? When did your agility and resilience kick in, or more critically, when have you not been able to draw on it? Channeling your inner child can be very helpful in this context!

Here’s how agility and resilience relate to the workplace:

Agility- An individual or an organization is “agile” when they're able to quickly adapt or evolve in response to changing circumstances. Being able to break down barriers in the workplace in order to meet changing business needs, advancements, or technologies is essential for any agile team.

Here are a few examples of ways you can be more agile in the workplace.

• You're not afraid to change course. When a crisis hits and you may need to switch sales tactics or adapt to working from home instead of going into the office and sitting at your desk. Learn to embrace the change and be flexible. Find a setup at home that works for you. If you enjoy sunlight, sit near a window. If quiet spaces are of utter importance, perhaps find a quiet room or use noise canceling headphones.
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• You're a listener. Actively listening to your peers is a trait that we all must continue to practice. Listening does not mean remaining quiet and staring into space. We must engage in eye contact via virtual calls or if the call is not face-to-face, than surrender the mute button every few minutes to acknowledge you’re listening and participating in the conversation.
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• You're proactive. Sitting around waiting for an opportunity to fall in your lap will not progress you in your career. Offer to work on a new project or to assist in a task that may not be part of your role and responsibility. This will benefit you to learn something new and guarantee it will be appreciated by your coworkers and leadership team alike.

Resilience- Resilience at work is now recognized as a defining characteristic of employees who deal well with the stresses and strains of the modern workplace. Resilience is a person's capacity to respond to pressure and the demands of daily life. In short, resiliency affects our ability to 'bounce back.'

Similarly, here are a few ways you can be resilient in 2021.

• Cherish social support and interaction. 2020 was a strange year and we were products of loneliness and isolation at times. It is important to be resilient and embrace the social support and interaction in 2021, to foster relationships within the workplace and to create connections with potential prospects. Those who actively seek new relationships and network will have the most success.
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• Treat problems as a learning process. Respond and recover from your mistakes. We’re all human and make mistakes, however, it is most important how we learn and grow from them. Those who bounce back quickly and positively will be the most productive and effective.
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• Take positive action. Create a plan for yourself in 2021…and send it to yourself or your manager. What are your goals? Write them down and hold yourself accountable. Another idea, create a list of daily gratitude’s - journal and document them so that you can visually see the positivity in the workplace and in life which will emulate meaningful work.

If you’re interested in learning more about who we are, what we do, and how we can help your workforce embrace agility and build resiliency, call today. Let’s work together to face these new challenges without fear in 2021.