10 tips for supportive professional engagement in the new normal
The author shares insights on how to promote supportive professional engagement by engendering a culture of empathy, encouraging diversity, adopting a collaborative approach and ways to cope with fatigue and stress.
Even as we steadily crawl back to normalcy, adjusting to the new normal, the rules of engagement in interpersonal relationships, especially in a professional environment, seem to have changed. Once governed by strict HR policies and rigid corporate codes of conduct, the pandemic has forced businesses to adapt and reinvent their growth as well as employee engagement strategies.
Due to decreased in-person interactions and the overall VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment, has led to stressed professional relationships. To address that, organisations are redefining policies and procedures and accelerating investments in new processes and technologies.
Given the stressed business scenario, it is natural for business executives, middle managers, and staff to react or take decisions based on insecurities and doubts. The tips, listed below, are insights from a stroke survivor, Sameer Bhide, which have been proven to help him face his adversities. These tips which are also documented in his upcoming memoir ‘One Fine Day’ can also help organisations to face today’s challenges. These tips, when implemented by businesses, can help create a harmonious working environment for its workforce during these challenging times.
1. Do not compare
Comparing your business strategies, processes and goals with competitors may be counterintuitive and cause more mental stress than be productive.
Do not compare your work projects/assignments with others. Have faith and trust that your business will grow on its own pace and that is perfectly alright.
2. Take ownership
When making decisions about initiatives or new processes or technologies, it is important to take ownership of those decisions. Take as much feedback as possible – from within and outside your organisation – but treat all of it as mere inputs, as there would be many ideas and suggestions from various well-meaning people.
In the end, you have to evaluate those and decide what is in the best interest for your company, clients, and employees.
3. Diversity in workplace is enriching
Build and leverage a diverse workforce. People from varied ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, and genders, help bring different perspectives to challenges and problems. Diverse workforces also bring a rich mix of talents and skillsets which can benefit your company’s capabilities for problem-solving and driving innovation.
4. Take balanced decisions
During these times of volatility, it is easy to be driven by insecure or negative emotions. One needs to make a balanced choice between the heart and the mind, the practical and emotional approach, when taking decisions related to new projects or any other business decision.
5. Segregate independent and team projects
In today’s organisations, there are different types of assignments. However, not all may require a team involvement. Sometimes, independently executed projects work best when given to an able candidate.
Learn to balance independent work culture and collaborative team projects, to ensure intelligent segregation of responsibility, minimise work load and ensure efficient delivery of results.
6. Identify fatigue
It’s natural that many employees will be overwhelmed and will experience fatigue. It could be a by-product of the multi-tasking that they have been handling in personal and professional life. The fatigue should not be taken personally; instead, allow for a supportive and empathetic environment to help them deal with it without being pushed to a burning point.
7. Act from a place of empathy and drive the same
It is important to remember that each one of us have gone through multiple challenges in the past few months – from loss of a loved one, physical and mental health issues, health concerns of family members, financial strain, social isolation, business and employment uncertainty, etc.
When working on a project, or a professional assignment, a person may not react amicably to a challenge, never assume anything. And act from a place of empathy.
8. Don’t play the victim
It is important to know that one has no choice but to play the hand you are dealt, not the hand you wish you had or think you deserve. In professional terms, it may mean the type of projects, budget constraints, expansion or career progression, etc.
As they say, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. One cannot ‘play the victim’ beyond a certain time. It’s okay to pity yourself initially, but that has to stop quickly so one can slowly begin to accept the new reality and eventually the new normal.
9. Making life smoother
It helps to create a positive environment for co-workers. Sharing information, being transparent and encouraging a collaborative approach to tasks can help build trust and create a close-knit team of employees, who can bring varied skills and make a passionate attempt to every task.
10. Leverage technology
Lastly, nothing beats enhancing productivity and making tasks easy by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like portals, digital platforms, remote desktops, audio/video conferencing, mobile first, simplified reporting tools, etc.
The above can go a long way in ensuring your organisation not only survives the crisis but thrives in it.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)
