In one unexpected fell swoop, the boundaries between work and home came tumbling down. We’ve probably gained more information in the last two weeks about the personal lives of our co-workers than we had ever gleaned before. Sheltering in place means we have infiltrated the previously personal domains of our colleagues’ basement home offices, partners, pet preferences, and perhaps met their cute toddlers, moody teens, and collegians banished from campus. Even young adult workers are heading back to the family HQ when geography and circumstances permit.
Now that this genie is out of the bottle, what will we do with it? Compassionate leaders are being given a unique opportunity to elevate the level of human connections in their teams and in their organizations. Seizing this moment will benefit the perceived strength of the leader and the well-being and morale of the team.
One of the harmful myths of leadership is that showing vulnerability makes a leader appear weak. In reality, it is just the opposite. It makes them appear human and authentic. Cats who mug for the webcam and children who barge in during a team video call don’t make you appear weak, they make you human. It is when your team sees your humanity that they can most easily connect and relate to you. This is the first step towards a greater level of trust in you and greater psychological safety on the team.
Typically leaders want to be in control, but the current COVID-19 crisis has shown quite clearly that none of us is actually in full control. Because we are all experiencing this loss of control, it is counter-productive to pretend that everything is under control and will work out perfectly. What your team needs to know is that you recognize the full spectrum of the current situation – positive, negative, personal, and professional – and how you plan to lead forward with truth and transparency in the face of uncertainty.
Seeing each other in more human terms is a two-way street. The current work environment also gives leaders the chance to see and approach their team in a more humane way. Even with a significant conversation around workplace flexibility and efforts to introduce different structural work schemes, many organizations turn a blind eye to staff members’ needs to attend to unexpected needs in their personal life. When our humanity is compromised, our contribution in the workplace is also compromised.
The result is that the workforce is now largely disengaged from their work. Gallup survey results show that approximately 2 out of 3 workers in the United States are not engaged in their work, while outside the US the data says over 5 in 6 workers are not engaged.
Compassionate leaders who see their team members as whole people can help close the disengagement gap and re-engage teams with the mission of their organization and recognize their value in it. The current crisis shows us that we can continue to be productive, creative, and resilient in more dramatically altered circumstances than we ever imagined.
Utilize the potential of this new operating environment. Connect with the personal side of your team and find ways that allow them to mesh their work and personal lives. There is a profound difference between a whole, integrated life and trying to balance two separate parts – work life and home life. We will all be happier, healthier humans.
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