First Things First
Returning to work after sheltering in place won’t be easy for many employees. Things are better but Covid is still here. Yes, restrictions are being lifted in many areas and life is beginning to get back to “normal”, but the virus is still dangerous. As we return to what “used to be”, managers and leaders, must realize that the people returning to the offices, stores, showrooms, and warehouses, are not the same people that left 15 months ago. And neither are you.
Even if we have not been personally affected by the virus, we have all been changed by it. We have not been able to hug friends and families for over a year and I don’t know about you, but I now want to hug everybody I see. Still, we have to be cautious. Not everyone has been or will be vaccinated. It seems like there’s a new variant every day, and we don’t know if we will need booster shots in the future.
So, what does this have to do with the workplace? Everything. In past posts, I have preached the importance of self-awareness. I have asked you to really know your people and to make your workplace is welcoming and respectful by building trust, coping with conflict, and embracing emotional intelligence. As people return to working in person, it’s time to practice what I’ve been preaching.
Caring for Yourself:
You can’t take care of anyone until you take care of yourself. Unless your team has sheltered the entire time at an all-inclusive resort with fruity adult beverages, this will be difficult. How do you get a group of stressed-out people to be productive? Putting yourself first will make it easier to take care of them. Trust me, I’m old. I know stuff.
Before you return:
- Make sure you are physically, mentally, and emotionally in a good place.
- Be mindful about how you might help them:
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- Head off constant ad hoc discussions around anxiety and stress by establishing specific times or sessions for people to discuss their concerns.
- Create a list of resources that you can post or hand out so that you’re not stressing yourself out by answering the same questions multiple times a day.
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- Make sure you’re eating right, sleeping well, and staying hydrated.
- Build some “me time” into your calendar.
- Have someone to confide in when things get tough.
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Caring for Your staff:
People may be happy to return to work, but they may also be afraid because they can’t trust their coworkers or you to keep them safe in the face of the unknown. Keep in mind, they’ll take their cues from you. The stronger your relationship with them, the less anxiety they’ll have.
Before they return:
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- Reach out to them and get them to acknowledge and talk about their fear. Ask them to consider creating a set of team norms for dealing with the anxiety when they return. If they agree, make the meeting a priority.
- Consider various scenarios that might come up and how you (the boss) might address them. This is where knowing your people can help. You may gain insight into the triggers people may have. Find a partner to role-play different scenarios for practice.
- Identify company resources that can help before you need them (i.e., HR, Counseling Services, Company Policies, etc.). See Caring for Yourself.
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Final Thoughts
As we return to the real world, my goal here is to bring up some things you may have not considered. It’s not a panacea for every issue that may exist. It is, however, intended to get you thinking about what might happen and how you might prepare for it. We are getting back to “normal” and don’t be surprised if I give you a great big hug when next we meet.
Related posts:
Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health
The Respectful Workplace of 2021
Mental Health and Coping During Covid-19 -