Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
in business, ENDURANCE it 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 abilities. A truly resilient company cultivates collective strength as a culture, especially useful for industries such as real estate with a cycle of unpredictable markets.
At SetSchedule, flexibility isn't just a feature, it's an ideology woven into the fabric of our business strategy.
Connected: 8 Ways Successful People Master Resilience
Redefining the strategic purpose for driving growth and strengthening
Starting as a marketplace for realtors to meet and exchange leads, SetSchedule's purpose was initially quite narrow.
As the company developed, we noticed larger challenges that permeate the real estate industry. These challenges provided the opportunity to be more than just another real estate tech startup. Driven by a strategic goal of greater resilience, we recognized our duty to provide a broader solution to our clientele and the entire industry.
Phil Rosenzweig adequately demonstrates the importance of strategic intent. In his book, The Halo Effect…and Eight Other Business Delusions That Fool Managershe notes that reinventing strategic purpose can guide companies as they adapt to fluctuating market conditions, growing needs, and cultural evolution.
We found this to be true in our journey to become an agile networking platform that democratizes the real estate process.
The challenges involved during the transition contributed to the strength of our culture, reinforcing its resilience.
A resilient company culture requires a collaborative effort
Resistance should be included in the structures the culture of the organization, absorbing influence from every team member, regardless of their designation. This inclusive buy-in ensures that everyone understands the company's mission, goals and values.
Jim Collins, at his end business guide, 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 determining the journey.
This sums up our philosophy at SetSchedule. Striving to ensure everyone understands our vision, we cultivate a strong culture capable of calmly navigating the stormy seas of the real estate market.
Embracing learning as a catalyst for resilience
By instilling the morale of continuous learning sustainability is born in the work culture. 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 from setbacks or failures.
Carol S. Dweck, known for her work on mindsets, has noted that organizational sustainability is linked to promoting a growth mindset. Unlike a fixed mindset, which views skills as static, a growth mindset values the journey of continuous learning, evaluation and growth.
Building resilience through emotional intelligence
In my company, another cornerstone for developing a flexible work culture is emotional intelligence.
Dealing with obstacles requires employees who can understand and manage their emotions. Emotional self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal effectiveness help not only navigate personal challenges, but also foster positive relationships in the workplace.
Encouraging these aspects within our team has led to better stress management and conflict resolutiontwo essential components of resilience.
Resistance through social responsibility
Commitment to social responsibilities initiatives increase organizational sustainability by building strong relationships with the community and stakeholders. It demonstrates a commitment to more than just profit, displaying a commitment to social growth and well-being.
This, in turn, strengthens the brand and fosters a sense of pride and purpose within the team.
My company actively participates and supports various community engagement programs. We've found that this not only elevates the communities we serve, but also enriches our company culture, imbuing our team with a sense of purpose that transcends the everyday.
Long-term vision for sustainable sustainability
Finally, resilience is not just about short-term returns; it's also about preserving this moment in the future. It requires a clear long term vision that can guide decision-making, strategy formulation and cultural development. This vision must be adaptable, able to evolve as external conditions change, but always provide a beacon for the direction of the company.
We constantly refine our vision, making sure it remains relevant and inspiring to our team. This long-term perspective helps us frame our daily actions and challenges in a larger context, providing clarity and motivation even in difficult times.
Connected: From setback to success – 4 ways to turn your struggles into resilience
In conclusion, SetSchedule's journey to building and sustaining a sustainable company culture is multi-faceted, based on strategic purpose, collective effort, continuous learning, emotional intelligence, transparent communication, innovation, employee well-being, social responsibility and a sustainable long-term vision. .
These combined elements strengthen our ability to adapt and thrive in the midst of adversityensuring that we remain relevant in the face of the unpredictable dynamics of the real estate industry.
The road to building such a culture is continuous and evolving, but ultimately rewarding. It ensures that, regardless of the challenges we face, we have the foundation not only to endure, but to become stronger and more cohesive in our endeavours.