This is a tough time for everyone – it will bring uncertainty and many, at all levels, will be anxious with all that’s going on. It stands to be traumatic at times and all of our resilience is important. If you can limit the crises, even at this stage, this will help. It will be natural, that things will go well some days and not so well at other times – you can manage those ups and downs by planning ahead, communicating and having good dialogue.
Here are some thoughts if your team working from home or remotely – or indeed, if they are working in a front line role, keeping us all safe:
- Don't assume your team members are alright and that you will hear from them if they need help - arrange for a check-in and indeed a check-out at the end of the day
- Look at your organisation’s values and see what they offer – it’s now you will realise those words mean something and they can help you make decisions and explain the reasons for certain courses of action
- Give people meaningful tasks and ask for feedback – explain how much their effort matters right now
- Show you care - be empathetic - people will be anxious and will look to you for leadership and support
- Make health and wellbeing part of the daily routine, if you can - encourage people to count steps together and perhaps add a little bit of a competitive edge
- Consider ways to recognise and reward the team, even now - make sure you are inclusive of all members
- Consider measures and actions to make sure you can carry on with work as this crisis continues - important to get everyone to spend some time to share information about their tasks and build resilience for the weeks/months ahead
- Think about your leadership and what is required from those in charge to lead the team through the crisis
- Take daily checks - what is happening
- Anticipate and manage risks – consider short -medium and long term issues [Think: goals, plans, structures, systems and processes as well as staff and even skills]
- Seek help/assistance if you feel necessary
- Keep communicating
- Understand and act on who needs extra help/support – for leaders and staff do you need to signpost or get extra help from others - there are some ninjas out there that are very willing and able to help - don't feel you have to do this alone, whatever the issue
As a last point, it is important too, to know where we can turn for support and how we offer it to each other – the earlier this is in place the better - best to know that before we need it!.Get all your contingencies in place in case required, if that is not already done.
A final, final point – we will come through this and undoubtedly be all the stronger for the experience therefore, it this is a critical time to think about those days of recovery too, as what you do now will carry you through with staff, suppliers and clients – as Covey said, start with the end in mind.