As a business owner or manager, your employees will look to you for guidance during a crisis like COVID-19. How do you prepare, manage and calm your teams during intense periods of fear and uncertainty?<\/p>\n
Social distancing. It is imperative to protect physical health but not so great for mental and emotional health. For the hundreds of thousands of<\/span> American workers either working from home or facing an uncertain future, social distancing can be a slippery slope.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For <\/span>business leaders<\/span>, maintaining the mental health of their workforce is a business advantage. <\/span>A focused staff can help a business maintain course or help a business regain course after a disruption like COVID-19. <\/span>However, a distracted, unstable workforce can further derail a business in times of trouble.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So<\/span> what is a leader to do in order to maintain employee produc<\/span>t<\/span>ivity and satisfaction during this time? Here are <\/span>eight <\/span>action items business leader<\/span>s<\/span> can take today to solve the question.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Show Up and Check In<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If your <\/span>employees work remotely, check in at least once weekly<\/span>. <\/span>If they are anxious, simply asking how they are doing<\/span> and <\/span>listening<\/span> to <\/span>them<\/span> will help<\/span>. <\/span>Don\u2019t be afraid to ask w<\/span>hat <\/span>strugg<\/span>les they <\/span>are <\/span>facing<\/span>, h<\/span>ow their families<\/span> are, and what they are doing for themselves in the area of self-ca<\/span>r<\/span>e.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Adjust <\/span><\/b>Where Possible<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Everything you have to deal with can feel urgent in a time like this. However, that urgency could work against you and create increased employee frustration. <\/span>By making small adjustments t<\/span>o<\/span> deadlines<\/span>, <\/span>responsibilities<\/span> or <\/span>work <\/span>hours, you may be able to <\/span>alleviate<\/span> a lot of <\/span>employee <\/span>stress<\/span> and turn their anxiety into productivity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Empower <\/span><\/b>Staff<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Determine how to relax approval processes <\/span>and adapt workflow <\/span>for the <\/span>current situation.<\/span> TEGN<\/span>A<\/span> Director of Talent Development<\/span>,<\/span> Becca <\/span>Mikolashek<\/span>,<\/span> advises<\/span>:<\/span> \u201cAnticipate <\/span>how strained <\/span>communication avenues and crisis-management responsibilities divert <\/span>employees\u2019 <\/span>attention from decision-making. The best leaders <\/span>communicate<\/span> goals and <\/span>then <\/span>empower teams to make <\/span>and execute <\/span>decisions.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Communicate with Purpose<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Knowledge and information <\/span>build confidence<\/span>. <\/span>L<\/span>eaders can <\/span>mitigate panic<\/span> by sharing <\/span>updates often and <\/span>dedicating <\/span>time to answer<\/span> questions and concerns<\/span> with transparency. In a time of crisis, the importance of transparency only inc<\/span>reases. Keep your team updated. T<\/span>ell <\/span>the<\/span>m<\/span> what\u2019s happening behind the scenes<\/span> and the steps you\u2019re taking to prepare for the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Encourage kindness.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Encourage your staff to be there for each other. <\/span>E<\/span>mphasize that<\/span>, as a business and team, you will be better<\/span> together, and <\/span>s<\/span>how<\/span>ing <\/span>up for each other <\/span>is critical. <\/span>Keep your tone <\/span>positive and <\/span>forward-<\/span>focused<\/span>. <\/span>Celebrate <\/span>wins<\/span> and thank your staff for going above and beyond.<\/span> Keep the team energized throughout the process. For instance, start team calls or meetings with energetic music, uplifting quotes or another form of unity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Share <\/span><\/b>Available <\/span><\/b>R<\/span><\/b>esources<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n P<\/span>rovid<\/span>e<\/span> resources<\/span> that help<\/span> sustain<\/span> emotional <\/span>health <\/span>and mental <\/span>wellness<\/span>.<\/span> Direct <\/span>your team <\/span>to <\/span>resources from the CDC<\/span> and <\/span>the <\/span>mental-health-related <\/span>support<\/span> your company can provide<\/span>, such as EAP (employee assistance programs)<\/span>. <\/span>Consider <\/span>supplemental services <\/span>a<\/span>nd try to e<\/span>liminate barriers to these resources<\/span>. S<\/span>hare <\/span>all resources <\/span>widely<\/span>,<\/span> publicly<\/span> and frequently.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Combat <\/span><\/b>Helplessness<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n P<\/span>eople <\/span>often f<\/span>eel helpless<\/span> when they are <\/span>stuck <\/span>at home <\/span>and others are in need<\/span>.<\/span> Encourage your team t<\/span>o<\/span> contribute their unique <\/span>gifts to others<\/span>, <\/span>while <\/span>maintaining social <\/span>distancing best practices.<\/span> For example<\/span>, e<\/span>ntrepeneur<\/span> Mark Cuban <\/span>offered <\/span>advice to small businesses<\/span> on <\/span>LinkedIn<\/span>,<\/span> while<\/span> t<\/span>he <\/span>Social Media <\/span>E<\/span>