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In business, resilience has emerged as a necessity rather than a regrettable afterthought. It is described as the ability to bounce back from challenges, whether based on adversity, conflict or failure.
However, I believe that resilience extends beyond personal capabilities. A truly resilient company cultivates collective strength as a culture, especially beneficial for industries like real estate with an unpredictable market cycle.
At SetSchedule, resilience isn’t just a characteristic, it’s an ideology woven into the fabric of our business strategy.
Related: 8 Ways Successful People Master Resilience
Redefine strategic intent to drive growth and empowerment
Born as a marketplace where real estate agents could meet and exchange contacts, SetSchedule’s scope was initially quite narrow.
As the company evolved, we saw bigger and bigger challenges permeating the real estate industry. These challenges have presented the opportunity to be more than just a real estate tech startup. Driven by a strategic intent for greater resilience, we recognized our duty to provide a broader solution to our customers and the entire industry.
Phil Rosenzweig aptly demonstrates the importance of strategic intent. In his book, The Halo Effect…and the Eight Other Corporate Delusions That Fool Managersnotes that reinventing strategic intent can guide companies as they adapt to fluctuating market conditions, growing needs, and evolving cultures.
We have found this to be true on our journey to become a resourceful networking platform that democratizes the real estate process.
The challenges faced during the transition have contributed to the strength of our culture, strengthening its resilience.
A resilient company culture requires a collaborative effort
Resilience must be built into the structures of the organization’s culture, absorbing the influence of every team member, regardless of their designation. This inclusive buy-in ensures that everyone understands the company’s mission, goals and values.
Jim Collins, in his seminal business guide, From good to great: why some companies make the leap… and others don’tdescribes the importance of getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats before defining the journey.
This encapsulates our SetSchedule philosophy. By ensuring everyone understands our vision, we cultivate a solid culture that can navigate the stormy seas of the real estate market with poise.
Embracing learning as a catalyst for resilience
Embedding the ethic of continuous learning in your work culture builds resilience. Challenges are seen as stepping stones, opportunities to learn and grow.
By fostering a culture that promotes learning, we are building collective resilience, which helps us recover quickly and efficiently after setbacks or failures.
Carol S. Dweck, known for her work on mindsets, noted that organizational resilience is linked to promoting a growth mindset. Unlike a fixed mindset, which views capabilities as static, a growth mindset values the journey of constant learning, evaluation, and growth.
Related: Resilience is one of the most essential entrepreneurial traits. Practicing it can help you build it.
Building resilience through emotional intelligence
In my company, another pillar for developing a resilient work culture is emotional intelligence.
Overcoming setbacks requires employees to be able to understand and manage their emotions. Emotional self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal effectiveness help you not only address personal challenges, but also foster positive relationships in the workplace.
Encouraging these aspects within our team has led to better stress management and conflict resolution, two crucial components of resilience.
Resilience through social responsibility
Involvement in social responsibility initiatives improves organizational resilience by building strong relationships with the community and stakeholders. Demonstrates a commitment that goes beyond simple profit, showing a dedication to the growth and well-being of society.
This, in turn, strengthens the brand and fosters a sense of pride and purpose within the team.
My company actively participates in and supports various community engagement programs. We have found that this not only improves the communities we serve, but also enriches our company culture, instilling in our team a sense of purpose that transcends the daily grind.
Long-term vision for sustained resilience
Finally, resilience is not just about short-term recovery; it’s also about sustaining that momentum into the future. It requires a clear long-term vision that can guide decision making, strategy formulation and cultural development. This vision must be adaptable, capable of evolving as external conditions change, but always offering a beacon for the direction of the company.
We continually refine our vision, ensuring it remains relevant and inspiring to our team. This long-term perspective helps us frame our daily actions and challenges in a broader context, providing clarity and motivation even in difficult times.
Related: From Setback to Success: 4 Ways to Turn Your Challenges into Resilience
In conclusion, SetSchedule’s journey towards building and maintaining a resilient corporate culture is multifaceted, founded on strategic intent, collective commitment, continuous learning, emotional intelligence, transparent communication, innovation, employee well-being, social responsibility and a firm vision long-term. .
These elements combined strengthen our ability to adapt and thrive amid adversity, ensuring we remain relevant in the face of the unpredictable dynamics of the real estate industry.
The path to building such a culture is persistent and evolving, but ultimately rewarding. It ensures that no matter what challenges we face, we have the foundation not only to endure but to become stronger and more cohesive in our efforts.