A message from Sandy——Resourcefulness–Do you need it? Yes!  With the tough economic times we all have been facing,and  learning to make do with what we have, being resourceful is a necessary skill. It’s not a matter of making do with less, it’s realizing that you can! We’re all much more capable than we first believed. Resourcefulness doesn’t have to mean coping with deprivation, it could be a virtue that opens the door to innovation. Here are some suggestions to consider:

Start with an open mind. Redefine what is possible.How can you leverage all your talents and resources to empower yourself and others? Being open to new possibilities is critical to putting resourcefulness into action.Are you willing to step up and say “yes we can do this?”

Resourcefulness is also about using what you already have, using some innovation to make old things work better. Encourage  your staff to use their imaginations and brainstorm new ideas, they hold the power to move the team forward.

It may be time to consider re-inventing how you do business. Think about  revising specific tasks, as well as roles and responsibilities. Systems and procedures can be revamped with an eye towards efficiency and cost savings. Is the spirit of resourcefulness grounded in “making it work”……”making it happen?” Resourcefulness is not always about the financial resources, it’s about talent management. The leader must be able to see what they have and “make” something of it.

Encourage resourcefulness, recognize and reward it. When  you think of who you look up to and who you strive to be, don’t you think of resourceful  people? Find a way to collaborate and create new resources. Resourcefulness may be critical now, but should not be reserved for hard times. Practical and creative problem solving never goes out of style. What would it take for you to be more resourceful?