Every team faces challenges. Whether it’s a sudden change in strategy, an unexpected setback or just a tough quarter, there will always be dips — those moments where things seem uncertain and progress slows. The key to long-term success is not avoiding the dip but learning how to lean into it and come out on top.

Resilience and adaptability are what separate great teams from the rest. Let’s dive into how to build a culture of resilience that’s ready to handle any dip.

Embrace the Dip: Lean In, Don’t Turn Back

When things get tough, some teams freeze, others fight, but the best ones lean in. The dip is part of the journey, and how you manage it defines your team’s future. It’s about seeing the dip not as a setback but as an opportunity to sharpen your skills, rethink strategies and come out ahead.

Actionable strategy: Teach your team to embrace challenges as an opportunity to pivot, learn and grow. Build resilience by encouraging creative problem-solving during tough times.

Humor break: Embracing the dip is like getting stuck in traffic — you can either honk and stress, or you can accept it, blast your favorite playlist and find a better route.

Learn from the Dip: Every Setback Is a Lesson

Resilient teams know that the dip isn’t permanent. The faster your team can learn from it, the quicker they can recover and push ahead. Every setback is an opportunity for growth, and it’s what you take from the dip that sets you up for the next rise.

Actionable strategy: Conduct post-mortems after setbacks to identify what went wrong and what could be improved. Encourage open discussion about what was learned and how the team can avoid similar issues. Normalize failure as part of the process and a necessary step toward progress.

Humor break: Learning from mistakes is like reading the directions after you’ve already put something together — sure, it’s late, but at least you’ll get it right next time!

Be the Person Who Comes Out on Top

The most resilient people use the dip as fuel for their comeback. It’s about shifting the mindset from “Why is this happening to us?” to “What’s next, and how do we conquer it?”

Actionable strategy: Instill a mindset of perseverance by celebrating not just the wins but how the team overcame challenges. Acknowledge the effort it takes to push through and reward those who lead the way out.

Humor break: Coming out on top after a dip is like winning a board game after trailing all night — it’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish.

Build Emotional Resilience: Steady in the Storm

Resilient teams aren’t just tough — they’re emotionally steady. They know how to manage their stress and stay calm under pressure. Building emotional resilience in your team ensures that when things go south, they can handle it with grace and keep moving forward.

Actionable strategy: Foster emotional intelligence by encouraging regular mental health check-ins and mindfulness practices. Provide training on managing stress and understanding emotional triggers. Equip your team with the tools they need to stay steady during the rough patches.

Humor break: Emotional resilience is like wearing noise-canceling headphones during a chaotic commute — everything might be loud around you, but you’re in your own zone, calm and focused.

Turn the Dip into a Launchpad

The dip doesn’t have to be a low point; it can be the platform that catapults your team to new heights. It’s all about flipping the narrative from “We’re stuck” to “We’re about to launch.”

Actionable strategy: When your team hits a dip, use it as an opportunity to innovate. Encourage brainstorming sessions where creativity thrives. Often, the best solutions are born from challenging moments.

Humor break: Turning the dip into a launchpad is like using an ad break during your favorite show to grab snacks.

Leaning into the dip and coming out on top isn’t just about surviving setbacks — it’s about thriving through them. By building resilience and adaptability into your team’s DNA, you’re ensuring that when the dips happen — and they will — your team will  use them as stepping stones to greater success.