Council Post: Four Lessons To Help You Move Forward In Challenging Times

During times when our connection to others is maintained primarily through virtual methods, it’s more important than ever to adjust our working styles and routines to our new environment. Many of us are experiencing new levels of stress as we navigate the impacts of the coronavirus, while also managing kids and family obligations and working from home.

Maintaining our mental health, getting good sleep, monitoring our nutrition and exercising regularly are mission-critical, yet it is easy for them to fall on the back burner. But there are a variety of ways for us to manage stress and turn it into learning and growth.

As the founder and CEO of a learning platform that helps develop talent through virtual coaching, I believe there are lessons and insights we can take away from these difficult times that can help us elevate ourselves personally and professionally once we return to the office.

Be vulnerable and real.

Being vulnerable and real is a great team builder. Who hasn’t had a dog, doorbell, kids or partner interrupt a video call? Start each day with a laugh to level the playing field and connect with your team when you’re operating remotely. All of these situations build trust and authenticity among your team.

Remember that your mental health still comes first.

Your mental health should still be your No. 1 priority. If you’re experiencing feelings of anxiety, think about what might be triggering it. For example, the content you consume and the conversations you hold could contribute to your mental state and have the power to cause stress.

To combat this, do things that build you up, such as take a break. While physically distancing, have “virtual cocktails” with a friend over video chat, take a walk or force yourself to get up from your computer and get yourself out of “work mode” for five or 10 minutes. Then, when we’re able to be together again, continue to put your mental health first, and your whole day will benefit.

Consider: What self-care practices should you continue in the future?

• Only consume content that’s truly going to help you. Before watching a video or reading an article, think to yourself, “Is this going to help me feel better about my day, or will it push me into spiraling or not being present in the moment?”

• Take a break. If you’ve adopted the habit of taking a 10-minute break every hour, maintain it. Go for a walk, step outside to get some fresh air, or take a break to learn something new. Maybe you enjoy looking up a new recipe or learning a few new words in another language. No matter what physical location you are in, you need to still take a breath for yourself.

• Appreciate routine. Before the need for physical distancing, I didn’t think much of my routine, including my commute to work, coffee on the train and watching the news. Working from home amplified for me that I needed to pay attention to my routine. How can it be that I have gained back three hours of commute time, yet I’m still not making time to exercise? It will take longer to adjust and define your new daily routine, though I’ve found doing so is paramount to your mental health through this process.

Overcommunicate, and ask for help.

During times when workplaces are physically separated, mentors, executive coaches and sponsors are also unable to meet with mentees in person. This is why it’s important to overcommunicate. Scheduling a weekly 20-minute check-in to manage questions and talk through challenges that are specific to remote working can be extremely beneficial, as it can help keep personal and professional growth a priority in uncertain times.

It’s also important to maintain some semblance of normal routines while working remotely, including conducting touch-base meetings, brainstorms and reviewing materials over the phone or via video chat. For employees and direct reports, getting feedback on work is key to continuing development and strengthening inter-team relationships.

Whenever your work environment shifts, keep that momentum and cadence of communication. Be sure to ask for help when you need it, ask questions and keep open lines of communication; in a mentor-mentee, sponsor or executive coach relationship, maybe this involves setting up a biweekly email check-in and a bimonthly in-person meeting. With your colleagues you work with day-to-day, perhaps you maintain the schedule of frequent check-ins throughout the day or having an all-hands team meeting for five minutes each morning to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

Consider: When you return to offices and more normal circumstances, how can you continue to ask for the things you need and get help from your peers?

Maintain a strong community.

There are a few ways we can lean into community, uplift colleagues and peers, and support our peers’ advancement from a distance. While kids are home from school and the house is full, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of stress and attempt to focus on one too many tasks throughout the day.

Encourage your team to look into a host of resources that have been made free or more affordable during this time to continue their education and build practical knowledge.

You can also take this time to practice more personal community-building methods. Aim to schedule one five- to 10-minute catch-up with a colleague, old friend or potential new business partner each day. Virtual coffees and cocktails are a great, fun way to reach out and connect without pressure.

This method has helped push me to take much-needed breaks and stay grounded. Harnessing the power of conversation for building and strengthening relationships will also help make the transition back into in-person meetings, coffees and interviews much smoother.

When the time is right, I believe we will all have a new appreciation for the energy and richness of community, and most importantly, self-care. We must remember to gather the wisdom we learned in this time, vulnerabilities and all, and take it forward to ensure we make sound decisions that not only better ourselves, but also ripple into our families, communities and colleagues as we build our new normal.