Keeping Your Team Engaged During the COVID-19 Outbreak, and What to Plan for When Quarantine is Over
It’s no secret.
Our worlds, both personally and professionally have been dramatically altered by the COVID-19 outbreak.
And while organizations continue to look for answers to help us all better navigate this new normal, many leaders are left to fend for themselves, dealing with the magnification of both positive and negative team dynamics.
So, let’s dive into ways you can keep your team successful during the COVID-19 outbreak, and how to best plan for when quarantine is over.
How are you developing trust?
The single most important thing you can be doing in this time of uncertainty is building trust with your team members. Start with this important question: “How are you really doing?” While we may do a surface level check at the beginning of meetings, it’s especially important to be authentic and present while allowing your team members to share how they are really doing in appropriate (1:1) settings. Remember, we are all asked to do a lot right now - keep ourselves healthy, keep our families healthy, our children supervised, supported and educated. By simply checking in on your team in a more intentional way, you’ll bet further developing trust.
Without trust, communication, and subsequently process breaks down. Additionally, by building trust in this time of uncertainty, you’re preparing for even more productivity when your team is all together again.
While managing, not micromanaging
When proximity is limited and communication channels change, it’s easy to become a micromanager without even knowing it. To protect you and your team from this happening, create a plan for how you internally communicate, and what channels dictate certain conversations (and what channels do not). While this can help protect you from micromanaging, it will also provide communication structure for your team.
Building camaraderie with limited proximity
Right now many teams are experiencing limited proximity due to recommended social distancing measures. Be careful not to allow social distancing to impact the camaraderie of your team. If possible, plan for times of non work-related connection with your team. These times may include having virtual lunch together, playing a game through video conference, or simply checking in with your team members about life. While these items don’t necessarily increase productivity, they will help build camaraderie in your team. Remember, we’re all instinctually navigating the COVID-19 outbreak differently.
And communicating with poise
We’re all navigating the COVID-19 outbreak differently. With this in mind, it’s important as a leader that you communicate effectively and with poise. Indirect or fragmented communication only creates more fear and worry, ultimately impacting your team and their productivity. Instead, be cautious with your words, and take additional time to frame up your responses (if you don’t know an answer, seek more information before responding). A poised leader will help their entire team navigate new situations with confidence; especially situations like the coronavirus.
While we collectively navigate this new normal, my goal is to better equip you to keep your team successful.
So, if you’d like to learn more about these concepts, and additional items you can implement for each, let’s schedule a phone call to discuss some simple solutions I’ve uncovered over the years.
Be safe and lead well.
-E