The pandemic is unfortunately far from over and organizations are confronted by the ever-changing landscape of our times. Many organizations have adapted to work-from-home setup to address government regulations prioritizing health and safety of individuals.
Team dynamics have totally changed and many of us experience fatigue as professional and personal boundaries blur. Many of us experience fear, anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and feelings of isolation and loneliness. All of these affect our performance at work. So how do we make sure that we continue to take care of our well-being while still being effective at the workplace?
Here are some tips:
EXTEND EMPATHY TO YOUR TEAM MEMBERS
Many of us go through cycles of grief and anxiety because of our current situation. We grieve our old lives and feel anxious on what the future holds. We grieve the freedom we once had of being able to go out any time we want to interact and connect with friends, family and peers. Because of this, our emotional and mental health are greatly affected and this could also trickle down on how we perform at work. While this is not an excuse for poor performance, it is important for leaders to be able to coach and mentor their teams on how they could effectively cope with the current situation and for each individual to be able to exercise self-management.
STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT
It is important now more than ever that we are able to model self-management. Being able to take charge of our thoughts and emotions and focus on the things that we can influence and control is critical for us to develop grit and resilience amidst the challenges this pandemic brings. Share tools and techniques that can help your peers and subordinates respond sensibly to the issues they face in their personal and professional lives.
FIND WAYS ON HOW TO COPE WITH STRESSORS
Recognize what causes stress and find ways on how you can manage them. Talk openly to your direct superiors, your peers or your teams if you are encountering challenges at work so that everyone is on the same page and help can be extended. For many, the burden of having to take care of the family’s needs while working at home has become very tangible. It is thus important to set expectations at home and at work and identify and stick to a work schedule so personal and professional boundaries are still in place.
CONNECT WITH OTHERS
One of the greatest impact of the pandemic is the feeling of isolation. Don’t forget to connect with other people and talk to them about your feelings and concerns. If you are at the receiving end of these conversations where peers ask for your help, extend compassion and kindness. It would also help to check on your team’s well-being once in a while that doesn’t involve any “work talk”. Assure others that they can approach you if they are experiencing any issues and hold the space for them when needed.
These are just some of the things you can do to help yourself and your teams cope in these challenging times. It is critical for all of us to identify things that are outside of our control and work with the resources that are available to us at this time.
If you have navigated how to successfully manage your teams at this time, share with us any of your tips and tools! We will be more than glad to hear about them. If you are looking for more programs that can help your leaders and teams manage themselves in this critical time, send us a message at info@benchmark-consulting.net and let’s talk on how we can bring your organization to greater heights.
