New year, fresh energy? It’s tempting to power through, but the strongest teams start by pausing, reconnecting, and building habits that protect their energy for the long haul.
After a demanding year, the New Year often brings a mix of pressure and possibility. For many managers in higher education, healthcare, and local government, it can feel like a race to catch up, but what your team might need most right now is space to reflect, reconnect, and recharge.
Resilience isn't about pushing through. It's about finding shared ways to recover, adapt and stay connected - especially when the pressure picks up again.
Why the Start of the Year Matters More Than You Think
It’s easy to dive straight back into goals and to-do lists. But the first few weeks back offer a valuable moment - a chance to reset team habits, reflect on what worked, and re-energise in small, sustainable ways.
Teams that make space for these moments tend to:
- Reconnect faster after change or downtime
- Feel more focused, appreciated and aligned
- Handle stress and uncertainty with more stability
Related reading: Team Reset: Practical Ways to Re-energise After Restructure
Team Resilience is a Shared Practice
Resilience is often framed as an individual trait, but in teams, it’s something we shape together.
It shows up in:
- How we hold space for each other during busy periods
- The conversations we make time for (and the ones we avoid)
- The habits we repeat - like regular check-ins or reflecting on what’s gone well
Resilient teams aren’t perfect. They’re honest, consistent, and good at adapting together.
Explore this further: How to Build a Team Culture That Supports Resilience
Three Habits to Rebuild Energy and Momentum
Whether your team’s coming back from a break or bouncing back from a tough quarter, these small actions can make a big impact:
1. Create a ‘Look Back, Look Forward’ Moment
Use the first meeting of the year to reflect and reset:
- What are we proud of from last year?
- What helped us get through the tough moments?
- What’s one thing we want to do differently this quarter?
This kind of appreciative inquiry focuses on learning and strengths, without skimming past the challenges.
Read more: Strengths and Struggles: How to Talk About What’s Hard Without Losing Hope
2. Set a Weekly Energy Check-In
Incorporate quick check-ins that build awareness and trust:
“How’s your energy this week, 1–5?”
“What’s one small thing that would help you recharge?”
This creates space for honest conversations and prevents silent burnout.
Related reading: How to Build a Team That Doesn’t Burn Out
3. Spot Strengths in Action
Instead of focusing only on problems to fix, notice what’s already working.
Say things like:
“I saw how you kept everyone calm in that session - that really helped.”
This isn’t about generic praise - it’s about naming what makes people valuable to the team.
Explore: Turning Team Tensions into Team Wins: Using Strengths to Fix Communication
How Strengthify Can Help
At Strengthify, we work with public sector teams to help them move from “just surviving” to building habits that sustain performance, collaboration and wellbeing - without adding to the workload.
Whether you’re kicking off the year or trying to reset after a tough one, we’ll help you:
- Explore your team’s strengths
- Build everyday habits for connection and reflection
- Support each other through pressure, change and progress
Explore our:
Together, we can make this year feel different - not because there’s less pressure, but because your team is better equipped to handle it.
Final Thought: Start Small to Go Far
The most resilient teams aren’t the ones that avoid difficulty - they’re the ones that build tiny habits for reflection, recovery and support. As the year begins, give your team permission to start there.