Why resourcefulness is such a valuable skill
How do you see a problem or challenge? Is it something that needs to be fixed or overcome? Or are you able to look at the situation differently and instead of problems see opportunities and advantages where you are able to find unique solutions and optimise the available resources to help you reach your goal?
Want to be a great leader?
If this sounds familiar and you’re not sure what this vital ingredient is, then I can tell you that it’s called resourcefulness and is a valuable skill to have. Being someone who can turn things around, stretch themselves to produce a different outcome and get things done is important for success. Resourceful people tend to be efficient, patient, creative, flexible, confident, adaptable and strategic. They believe in acting now and never giving up, and that’s why they make great leaders.
But it’s not just about creating something new; resourcefulness is also about making existing things work better. In today’s difficult climate being able to:
Look at the bigger picture
Think outside the box
Come up with ways to cut back on spending
Get the best out of what resources you have
Recognise, motivate and reward others
Learn new skills
Say ‘what if’ instead of ‘can’t’
Agile mindset
Resourcefulness is a mindset. I like to think of it as working smarter, not harder, but it’s not without risk as sometimes to achieve success you have to break the rules and take chances. If you want to increase your resourcefulness, here are some pointers:
Be curious and willing to ask questions to increase your knowledge. Expanding your knowledge also increases your ability to add value.
Be organised so you can keep track of time, tasks and resources, do things more efficiently and with less chance of stress or burnout.
Be realistic and clear about what you can achieve with current resources and time constraints. Break goals down into smaller chunks so they are easier to complete.
Build supportive relationships with others and a strong network of people you trust, respect and admire.
Embrace the art of delegating tasks you find boring or difficult so that you can focus your resources on what you love doing.
Look to build your problem-solving skills to identify issues, brainstorm workable solutions, evaluate options, choose the best and then implement. It’s also important to accept when a problem can’t be solved so you can move on.
Be open to new ideas and willing to make changes or adapt to shifting circumstances, which means you don’t get trapped in a situation and can always see the bright side of things.
How I can help
If you’d like some help to develop your resourcefulness and cultivate a culture of innovation and efficiency, please get in touch. By encouraging people to think and look at things from a unique perspective, you can free up resources and implement a strategy for growth.