I admit it. I wasn’t sure I was going to like coming back from my COVID hibernation.
For the past 14 months or so I have been able to hide behind my computer screen and work remotely, like most of the rest of you. I really enjoyed doing video calls in my shorts, walking into the kitchen for lunch, and easily making my 4:30 afternoon workout at Orange-Theory. It was really nice having coffee on the patio, watching the sun come up, and then having a traffic free commute through my kitchen and into my office. Total time from breakfast to the office was 6 seconds.
Now, please don’t mistake what my work life was like...I worked my tail off during 2020, maybe harder than ever as I continue to grow the coaching and training that I do. I taught more classes than I ever thought possible thanks to the magic of the video conference. (Thank you, Zoom, you really saved my business!)
That said, I had an amazing past couple of weeks! And now, I am SO ready for 2021 AC (After COVID. No disrespect intended to those who follow the Anno Domini calendar)
It might sound crazy, but I had the chance over the past week to do a couple of live events with clients. It was amazing! One talk I did was with a group of around 45 in the morning, then about 50 in the afternoon. Everyone stayed 6 feet apart, wore masks while seated at large round tables with 3 to a table, and bumped elbows instead of shaking hands. Earlier in the week, I did some smaller group settings with the same dynamic - spacing and purposeful face covering.
Coming Out of Social Hibernation
The energy was amazing at both of these events I described above. That is what I want to focus on today. In no way take my words here as a recommendation to be unsafe. I simply want us to remember that as leaders, we are responsible for bringing our team out of this “social hibernation” we have been in.
As leaders, we are responsible for influencing the energy in the room. The authors of the book Influence make a bold claim that really deserves consideration. “Learning how to motivate and enable others to change their actions may be the most important skill you’ll ever acquire.”
I really think this quote deserves some pause and consideration. For example, those on our teams have been used to coming to work with a nice shirt on, but who knows what is happening below the view of the camera on the computer these days?
How we as leaders motivate and inspire to equip change is an important part of how your team responds to your leadership.
It would be easy, and wrong, to assume that people will simply migrate back to the office and everything is going to be just like it was in January 2020 BC (before Covid).
People have changed. People’s needs have changed. Even what they want out of work is changing!
I have had several conversations with folks who have insinuated that focusing on their well-being and reducing stress has become more important to them than chasing a carrer rainbow. Now, that doesn’t mean that career is less important, but it does mean that people are wondering if they can have a great career and also remove stress from their lives.
Enter your role as a leader.
If you have a business to run and you need talented people to do the work, how we engage and influence may actually be job one for us. I recently read an article in Inc. that quotes Jeff Bezos final shareholder letter as CEO of Amazon. What jumped out at me is the truth Bezos spoke in five simple words. “Create more than you consume.” As leaders, I wonder if we are intentionally creating followership as people transition back toward an office environment? The other side of that equation is that we are just assuming (consuming) that there is no transition time needed and functioning as though we are operating in business as usual.
Below are three things I have been thinking about that could help you influence and navigate these difficult times.
3 After COVID Ideas To Engage Your Teams
Be present with them. Emotional connection is a very real dynamic when creating followership. As people are coming back to work things like psychological safety and building trust may have to be rebuilt in some ways. To be present with someone means that you are aware of and responding to their nonverbal cues. That the atmosphere has enough stress for the person to engage, but not so much they feel anxious. Stay attentive and really attuned with them. Avoid being distracted by email or your Apple Watch. Make the person you are with the most important part of the moment you are in.
Be frequent with them. As leaders we have become used to a quick video chat with someone when we need them. As people transition back we may need to be intentional with how often we get together. Maybe shorter, more frequent interactions can create a level of safety and help the person reconnect. Remember, folks have been on their own for a while. It could be a bit of a shock for them as they come back into an office setting. Short, more frequent touches might help with adapting.
Have some intentional fun with them. There is nothing that creates a safer feeling in the workplace than people who are having fun with what they are doing. This playful spirit can really bring energy and enthusiasm to the work people do. Fun does not mean funny. You don’t have to joke or be silly. What you can do is create some intentional excitement. Share some good news. Ask them to share some good news. Create a positive feel and vibe in the office to where people walk away and say to themselves, “You know what, I missed this camaraderie last year. I am glad I am back in the office.”
In Summary
It takes a while for people to adapt to change. Change can be hard. It takes time to get used to. As leaders, we are pretty good at knowing what is in our own heads in terms of what we expect. We live with these thoughts all the time. What we are not as good at is being intentional in our communication about what we are constantly thinking about. For us, this change is easy. We have been thinking about it for a long time. Those who follow, however, are just getting used to the idea. Be patient, be present, be frequent, and have some fun. I think you will be glad you did.