Enhanced Employee Engagement is Crucial during a Crisis

Work from home is the most talked-about topic, and one has been reading various takes on the ’new normal’. Some of us have adapted to it and found a way to manage work and personal priorities, while others are still trying to uncover their formula. Back to back video calls, 24x7 virtual availability, and stress due to ongoing uncertainties is triggering anxiety and emotional turbulences for many. But since the coronavirus is here to stay, it is imperative that all of us must learn to cope with the current situation.

At every given time, we need to remember that we all are in it together, and this too shall pass. The need today is to continuously engage with your people and understand their situation more than before. Showing empathy is the key to the “New Motivation” in this current time.

Meghan Biro rightly said, “Employees engage with employers and brands when they’re treated as humans.”

First, recognise that anxiety exist amongst all of us, and there is an immediate need to address it in a constructive way. Understanding the root cause of the problem and speaking to each individual from the team compassionately, reading between stressed words, hold high value amongst the people we work with. A meaningful conversation and proposing various ways to help our people rid themselves of their anxiety, will definitely be helpful for employee and team productivity.

“In order to build a rewarding employee experience, you need to understand what matters most to your people.” – Julie Bevacqua

Having been accustomed to face to face interactions, where we were able to detect the mood of our teammates, this new form of working from home poses a threat of disconnecting with our people. As leaders, we need to be extremely cognizant of avoiding any encroachment into their personal space while still trying to help them deal with their challenges. Regular talks with team members, hosting sessions that engage them beyond work, encouraging them to indulge in a hobby, and discussing them during the “light team calls or non-work conversations” will surely help them to get motivated and stay upbeat. Hear not to only hear, but to listen and reflect on what is being said – having worked with our team face to face, we all understand our people and can also hear the stress in their voice. So a 10-minutes catch-up that doesn’t concern work but other aspects of life can rejuvenate the relation and sustain understanding with the team members.  

I have personally learnt a lot from the new form of working, especially when it entails being connected with team across. Managing a remote team during any crisis requires embracing a different sort of workplace behaviour. The key is to be connected with them and available for them when they need you. It is imperative for leaders to build an understanding amongst the team and inculcate “team spirit” during these times. Find that “engagement” factor for your team members and help them further build on it. This primarily comes from the bond you share with the person and recognising their efforts. Personal bond with colleagues can act as a beacon of strength in these times. Sharing one’s concerns helps bring a sense of openness and acceptance that the situation is affecting all of us. The discussion then turns to once of acceptance, of reason and forward-looking. Showing empathy, respect, and understanding helps the team to adjust and focus on the next steps, both personal and professional.

The significance of staying connected with the team - not just professionally but also emotionally – during these trying times cannot be ignored. It is in times like these that strong, enduring bonds are established.