Staying Connected - and Sane - When Working Apart
Much of our work gets done with and through others, and we’ve had to adapt how we work together. How can we stay connected and stay sane through all this?
March 2020 was a momentous month on so many levels…we experienced lockdowns, began social distancing, and stocked our shelves with hand sanitizer, Lysol and toilet paper. LOTS and LOTS of toilet paper. We experienced the expression of extreme division in the U.S. We woke up to systemic racism and began to take action. We survived forest fires and hurricanes. We lost loved ones. We fretted and learned to appreciate the little things. It was a heck of a year.
We are all impacted in some way. Those who lost their jobs either had to find a new one or go on unemployment. People with children suddenly had to supervise their kids’ online schooling. Kids in college returned home to live with their parents. People working from home scrambled to find spaces at home where there would be peace and quiet. One client worked from a closet for a few months - it was her only option. That made me think of Harry Potter; however, unlike him, we don’t live in a world where we can use a magic wand and make everything better. This is reality. We had no choice but to adapt. And we continue to do so.
No great work gets done alone; we get work done with and through others. As a leadership coach and consultant, I’ve learned great tips from my clients on what they did to stay connected and sane when working away from the office.
Redesign how you work together.
Keep it real.
Make it okay to have “cameos” of kids and pets. Some clients have told me they know their teammates better because they’ve met one another’s family members.
Check in personally more often. Before jumping into work conversation, “check in” so people can become present and connect with one another. For example, have everyone share something they’re grateful for, a challenge they’re facing, and something emerging in their life.
Make it okay to share feelings about what’s going on.
Cut one another some slack. Acknowledge we’re all going through ups and downs, and we’re not so “skillful” when we’re stressed. Be more accepting.
Develop team agreements. Talk about your working relationships. The world feels like it’s turned upside down; what do you want the atmosphere to be when you’re working together? What will help your team thrive? What do you need from one another to make your best contribution? How do you want to be when things get difficult? What can you commit to one another? (I have been asked to facilitate many a conversation like this - it works wonders.)
Determine your work rhythms. How often do you want to meet, and for what purpose? Many of my clients realized they didn’t need as many meetings, and this freed up time for individual work. (Can you hear the introverts cheering?)
Develop agreements on how you’ll use connecting technology. Zoom, Slack, WhatsApp, texting…the ways to connect have grown exponentially. Decide as a team what you will use, and how, so it’s not overwhelming.
Use visual technology. Mural and Jamboard are but two examples of how team members can brainstorm ideas, make decisions, and share valuable information.
Make sure you and others don’t burn out. As the line between work and family time blurred, some of my clients noticed they began working all hours of the day and night. They learned the importance of valuing rest and restoration.
Establish rituals. When you work from home, it can be hard to know when your workday begins and ends. Encourage people to have some kind of ritual. For example, take a shower and get dressed before the work day starts. At the end of your work day, close the office door to show that you’re entering “family time.”
Encourage frequent stretch breaks. We’re not meant to sit at a desk staring at screen all day. Encourage one another to get up, stretch, take a walk, and be away from the computer and phone a while.
Don’t overstimulate your brain. Trying to read everyone’s facial expressions in a video meeting can be exhausting. Switch to teleconferences once in a while. (I have clients who request phone over Zoom for their coaching sessions, for this reason.) Turn off your “self view” on your camera - it’s been shown that watching our own image is distracting and tiring.
Make it okay to have down time. Zoom fatigue is a real thing. Make it okay to have a non-Zoom day every week. The introverts on your team will thank you! Find ways to create space for reflection, planning and focus, and you will all be more creative and relaxed when you connect.
Most important of all, grant yourself some grace. You are human, not a superhero. Accept that your 100% will be different every day.
I am so grateful to my clients for sharing these tips. What is working for you?