Best Possible Outcome

CHAPTER 11PROMOTE A RESILIENT TEAM

The concept of resilience is multifaceted and reaches into all areas of an organisation and its people. It depends on grit, robustness, elasticity, the ability to survive and even thrive in adverse and chaotic conditions. For us, ‘resilience’ meant ensuring the safety of those we were sent to a war zone to protect.

Here we explore two concepts essential to the wellbeing of any organisation: being prepared by having a leadership succession culture; and supporting your team as they process an unexpected event. This will ensure your team will be robust enough to withstand turbulence and achieve the best possible outcome.

BUILDING A SUCCESSION CULTURE

A succession culture is critically important to the resilience of your team. The war doesn't stop because the boss is injured. Likewise, in the corporate world, your competition doesn't give you a break because you are in crisis.

The military builds a culture of succession planning to ensure teams continue to function and succeed even when they lose key individuals. Leaders in any organisation owe it to their team to ensure that, in their absence, the right people step up so decisions continue to be made and the organisation continues to succeed.

Sam, the troop sergeant, stuck his head through the hatch in the top of the armoured vehicle and saw me slumped on the centre ammunition bin, my face covered in blood.

‘How are you going there, boss?’ was his only question.

I mumbled some response, unintelligible ...