Many HR and reward programs today operate on a competency-based platform, where the fundamental building block is a set of core competencies (defined in the WorldatWork glossary as behaviors, attributes or skills that are predictors of personal success).
Recently revisiting a Harvard Business Review post by John Baldoni on The Importance of Resourcefulness, I have to say that resourcefulness sure strikes me as an essential competency for success in the world and the workplaces that 2020 has dished up for us.
I particularly appreciate his definition of resourcefulness as not merely a means of coping with deprivation, but rather a realization that "you and your colleagues are more capable than you first believed." Baldoni shares a number of helpful suggestions for being resourceful that get to the very essence of this trait (paraphrased below):
Redefine the Possible. Start with an open mind. The leader who steps up and says "yes we can do this" is one who can push colleagues to do things that some might consider impractical.
Turn Innovation Inward. Innovation is not just about creating something new; it also applies to making old things work better.
Choose Specifics. It may be tempting to consider ways to re-invent how your company does business. Adopting a realistic attitude about what you can do in the short term might be more productive.
Lean on Your Staff. Conventional thinking in frugal times says stop spending, but sometimes managers conflate that mantra with "stop doing." A resourceful leader doesn't stand still and encourages staff to follow her example.
Celebrate the Lessons. Those who are resourceful need to be recognized and rewarded, and in turn, teach their lessons to others.
Given the challenges that employees and employers are facing today, it's hard to imagine a more valuable attribute. What say you?
Creative Commons image "Resourceful" by Pawel Loj
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.