Values and Leadership Newsletter
Food for Thought | November 2020
My brother-in-law dropped off a couple of pieces of cake for us this week. It is our nephew’s birthday and this year we will be celebrating by Zoom. It seems like nothing in our lives has been left unchanged. Still, that doesn’t mean we should allow a requirement to be apart to keep us from being there for one another.
Though we can’t physically be together, we can still find ways to connect and to care for each other. While leaders have a responsibility to ensure public health restrictions are met, it is also critical to ensure the well-being of your team. Recognizing and acknowledging that others are experiencing hardship creates an environment that allows people to bring their authentic selves to work. As we move into the busy Christmas season, don’t forget that those on your screen are experiencing more than you may realize. When you encourage meaningful connections, you will find your team is more equipped to bring themselves to work each day.
We didn’t see this pandemic coming, but we can ensure our future looks brighter by lifting each other up and caring for one another.
In the News
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To protect our future, as Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex reminds us, we must stand together in the present. How can we ensure we have a community to embrace when this is over? By being there for one another now. “The only way to begin to heal is to first ask, ‘Are you OK?’” The act of caring does not belong to any one person or industry. We all have a responsibility to care for one another. Remaining physically distanced does not mean we must go it alone. “Participating in the exchange of care is what holds us together.” Now is the time to ask your team how they are doing. And really mean it. “If there’s one good thing to come out of this, it will be our ability to care for each other.” Pandemic or not, people experience hardship and that doesn’t go away when they get to work. Encouraging a culture of care ensures your team feels heard and valued.
We all have an innate desire to connect, but connection doesn’t just happen. Leaders can encourage meaningful interactions in the way they lead. Create a safe space by leading with authenticity. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. |
From our shelves …
Nowadays many things get in the way of human connection. In his book, Together, Dr. Vivek Murthy argues the negative impacts of loneliness and what we can do to combat it in the workplace. This goes beyond being physically together. It involves an intentional effort to connect with those around you.
