Skip navigation

How to build resilience among your managers

Boosting resilience for managers requires building 7 core manager skills.

There are five managers having a meeting in a conference room. Four of them are sitting at a table while one is standing. There are documents featuring charts and graphs on the table.There are five managers having a meeting in a conference room. Four of them are sitting at a table while one is standing. There are documents featuring charts and graphs on the table.

Table of contents

Insights from Ellen Raim, Founder of People MatterWe focus more on solving than preventing People problems.

Resilience has emerged as a critical skill for managers.

As the backbone of teams and projects, managers with solid resiliency skills can navigate challenges, adapt to changes and sustain their team's momentum through adversity. For these reasons and many more, resilience is not just about bouncing back — it’s about pushing forward with an adaptive mindset that can transform potential setbacks into opportunities for growth.

Boosting resilience for managers requires building the following core manager skills:

1. Accountability

Managers who practice accountability set a precedent of responsibility and reliability.

Accountability ensures operational targets are met efficiently and establishes a culture where each team member feels valued and responsible.

The ability to navigate responsibilities precisely serves as a stabilizing force in cultivating resilience, empowering managers to uphold standards even when the going gets tough.

2. Innovation

For managers, leveraging new technology can significantly enhance decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.

By adopting innovative technologies, managers can stay ahead, foresee potential challenges and devise solutions swiftly and effectively.

This proactive approach is critical to resilience, ensuring managers and their teams are always prepared and ahead of the curve.

3. Trust building

A resilient manager understands that trust builds the resilience of the team as a whole, enabling more open communication, greater risk-taking and a more substantial commitment to shared goals.

When team members trust their leader, they are more likely to rally during tough times and collaborate to overcome obstacles.

4. Collaboration + communication

Effective collaboration and clear communication are vital in enhancing team synergy.

For managers, these skills ensure that all team members are on the same page, reducing misunderstandings and aligning efforts toward common objectives.

A well-connected team can better handle disruptions, as they share a unified vision and can pull together to navigate challenges.

5. Conflict management

Managers skilled in conflict management can address disputes with fairness and confidence, maintaining team coherence and focus.

Resilient managers use conflicts as opportunities to teach problem-solving skills, thus enhancing team resilience and ensuring that the team can more competently face future challenges.

6. Emotional intelligence + empathy

The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and to empathize with others is crucial for building a supportive team environment.

Emotional intelligence fosters resilience by helping managers recognize the emotional needs of their team members, allowing them to provide support and motivate individuals through challenging periods.

7. Constructive feedback

Creating a growth-minded culture within the team involves delivering constructive feedback that addresses issues and motivates and encourages team members.

Managers who excel in giving and receiving feedback contribute to a learning culture that adapts and thrives, making resilience a natural outcome of team dynamics.

Resilience is a multifaceted skill set

Resilience encompasses a range of managerial capabilities. From leveraging accountability and innovation to fostering emotional intelligence and managing conflicts, these skills collectively enhance a manager's ability to lead with resilience.

Learn live. Adapt faster.

Latest resources

Learn more about creating a culture of learning throughout our resources below.

How to build employee connection that drives engagement and performance
Electives team
 
Jun 19, 2025

How to build employee connection that drives engagement and performance

Create a culture where relationships, collaboration and shared learning drive lasting connection and retention.
Why strong professional development programs drive business growth
Electives team
 
Jun 18, 2025

Why strong professional development programs drive business growth

Professional development programs can do more than support employee growth. Design programs that build critical skills, drive performance and strengthen retention.
How to build change-ready teams that drive business resilience
Electives team
 
Jun 17, 2025

How to build change-ready teams that drive business resilience

Change is constant. Learn practical ways to build change-ready teams through leadership skills, team learning, mindset and everyday practice.
5 secrets to keeping employees motivated at work
Electives team
 
Jun 12, 2025

5 secrets to keeping employees motivated at work

Here are 5 ways to help employees stay motivated and engaged at work.
Culture + collaboration
Why continuous learning is key to business agility
Electives team
 
Jun 11, 2025

Why continuous learning is key to business agility

Continuous learning helps organizations stay ready for change. Explore practical ways to build a learning culture that drives agility and stronger business outcomes.
Learning best practices
Supporting employee wellbeing: A key driver of motivation and retention
Electives team
 
Jun 10, 2025

Supporting employee wellbeing: A key driver of motivation and retention

What drives employee wellbeing at work? It’s not the perks. It’s everyday culture, leadership and learning that supports resilience and growth.
Culture + collaboration

View all posts

ENJOYABLE. EASY. EFFECTIVE.

Learning that works.

With live learning + AI simulations, Electives is a learning platform that makes it easy to design, execute and measure effectiveness.

Request a demo

Request a demo

Learn more

Learn more