Striking a balance to support all employees from a distance
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What do you need to do differently to engage your team now?
Traditional ways of connecting in the office, like popping in for a conversation, aren't possible now. Think creatively about what's possible now.
8 ways to manage and support a team while social distancing
- Reset expectations
- Communicate regularly and often
- Assign buddies or peer coaches for mutual support
- Watch for verbal and nonverbal cues of distress
- Model optimism; it's contagious
- Update even if no update; uncertainty fuels anxiety
- Support continued learning; share lessons learned
- Continually gauge stress and engagement levels
Read the article from Harvard Business Review: 8 Ways to Manage Your Team While Social Distancing
Supporting from a distance
- See your opportunity to re-learn good leadership
- Intentional check-ins
- Creatively involve in advancing department goals
- Acknowledge accomplishments of the team and individuals
Tips to prevent burnout
- Maintain balance and well-being
- Reach out to each member daily or often
- Help them prioritize workload
- Remind them to take breaks
- Ask about life outside of work
- Follow your own advice
Read the article from Thrive Global: How Managers Can Help Their Team Prevent Burnout During the Coronavirus Crisis
Support parents with a flexible work culture
- Ask what they need
- Flex instead of changing policies
- Offer flexible hours for productivity
- Make meetings shorter
- Move deadlines to OOB (opening of business), not COB (close of business)
- Commit to clear and individualized expectations
- Remember parents are learning a new balancing act and have compassion
Remember how you support parents and all of your employees now may impact productivity and long-term engagement.
