Leading Through Crisis
A note from BetterSpaces CEO John Lema
The phrase ‘new normal’ is floating around a lot, as we look cautiously toward reopening and returning to the workplace in the coming months. Teams are scattered and working remotely, and the Great WFH Experiment can feel like running another lap around an endless track, wondering where the finish line is, and what it will look like when we get there.
In a crisis, particularly an extended one like a pandemic, the lifecycle of engagement and wellbeing is shorter. Like running, some days the miles fly by, and some days it’s an uphill slog in the snow. Between lockdown and zero commute times, burnout is an inevitability: Bloomberg recently reported an ‘obliteration of work-life balance’, citing in the U.S., employees working remotely average three more hours to their workday, on top of family and personal obligations. Additionally, many companies are experiencing pay cuts or layoffs, which pulls a 1-2 punch of lower morale and increased workload. On the flip side, many employees report not wanting to return to ‘normal’.
In short, the new normal is a workforce in crisis, and looking to leadership for help. It has never been more important to cultivate a healthy company culture, and help employees stay connected, engaged, and happy.
At the core of employee engagement is a company culture centered in empathy and well-being. At BetterSpaces, we help people stay connected, resilient, and productive - no matter what normal looks like. Below, we’ve shared 4 tips that business leaders and companies can use to help their people thrive in the new normal.
Help Employees Achieve Well-being Goals - Recent Gallup research shows that Americans need five elements — financial, community, social, career, and physical — to thrive, but only 1 in 14 reported feeling satisfied in all five. As workers settle into a remote routine, leadership should encourage, and model, a healthy work-life balance. Invest in employee well-being and long-term, all weather engagement, retention, and productivity follow suite.
Reflection/Check-in Huddles -When one day bleeds into another, it can be difficult to feel productive, let alone inspired. Try an optional morning check-in with non work related questions or games to kick off the work day, or a virtual, company wide happy hour via Zoom on Fridays, with a focus on the ‘wins of the week’. Celebrate and reflect on the little things as much as the big things. Model connection, and create space for it to grow, even at a distance.
Reinforce Purpose - Teams that have a deep and nuanced understanding of the ‘why’ their work evolves from show greater engagement, happiness, and productivity on the job. Particularly in turbulent times, help keep your team focused on impact, and the big picture.
Communicate Clearly, and Compassionately - Reach out to employees individually and find out how they are doing, and uncover ways to help, if appropriate. Communicate what you understand, while holding space for the unknown. Normal is one day at a time now, and that’s okay. A baseline of empathy goes a long way toward cultivating stability and boosting morale.
And lastly, remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. The finish line might look differently than it did when you started. But without a doubt, fostering a culture where people stay connected, cared for, and inspired will be a key driver in the success of your company on the other side of a crisis.