Airbnb’s IPO: What That Tells Us About Resilience

From selling cereal to pay the bills to laying off 1,800 employees to now going public… Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, has a story for the ages.

Adapting to adversity is what we call… Resilience. In a recent study by Harvard Business Review, researchers discovered that the more twists and turns an individual faces, the more resilient they’ll become over time. Chesky can attest. With the COVID-19 crisis and economic shake-up, the CEO found a way to get back on his feet.

Long story short: Failure is your opportunity to learn. A cheat code to success, if you will. Every time you face a setback, you’ll realize you’re becoming stronger… more resilient. You’ll come out on the other side prepared to take on the next challenge.

The Takeaways

• Welcome setbacks. Don’t shy away from challenges, face it head-on. When you persist in the face of setbacks, it will only enhance your resiliency.
• Big changes lead to evolution. If you had been forced to absorb significant changes, whether that’s in your professional or personal life, you have increased your resilience.
• Don’t sugarcoat. When it comes to communication, stick to the facts. That means not “glossing over” the truth of the matter. Whatever reality your team is facing at the moment, just say it straight.

Quote of the Week

“Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” –Drew Houston, CEO of Dropbox​

Conversation Starters

• Influence: Now, more women than ever have entered the top U.S. business schools this year. Question: Why weren’t women half of the student population from the beginning? (Source: Bloomberg)
• Social Media Management: Twitter just released their rendition of stories called Fleeting Thoughts. Hmm, thoughts? (Source: NPR)
• Storytelling: Maybe it’s time we coin our Matter employees. (Source: Twitter)
• Verbal Communication: The holidays are around the corner and instead of dreading the controversial conversations, prep for them. (Source: Chicago Tribune)
• Vision: Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a SpaceX launch. Elon Musk sent four astronauts into orbit, marking the company’s first mission with humans on board. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

Editor’s Corner

Question of the Week: “I have a team member that’s never on time. Not for meetings or Zoom calls. How do I make them punctual?” — Lauren, content specialist

Editor’s Recommendation: Punctuality is a gradual process. But, if you want to see immediate change, I first suggest speaking to your peer on the implications of being late. Specifically how your time equates to respect. Lateness shows a lack of respect for everyone’s time.

Second, share specific examples of how their tardiness may have led others to start showing up late too. Eventually, your calendar or Zoom invites won’t be taken seriously. This will only erode the trust established between you and your team. All and all, start the conversation, show the impact, and be patient. It takes time to build habits.

Now's Your Turn

Building resilience takes time, but not to worry! Your peers can help you track your progress while you work on becoming resilient. All you have to do is ask them. 😉

​>> Go to Matter​ <<

For You Overachievers

From our blog to your inbox, check out our latest How-To series. All under three minutes with things you can try with your team immediately.

• How to Have Good Intentions While Being Candid
• How to Embrace Authentic Leadership
• How to Lead a Purpose-Driven Organization

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