Resources in Today's Episode

• Your Consumers are Afraid a blog by Sasha Boghosian
• Alan Shoebridge LinkedIn Group Therapy Post

Key Takeaways 

Group Therapy while Living in a Pressure Cooker: 
Ways of coping with the evolving work demands and the circumstances of today’s world 

• Acknowledging that we are all just human
  • How do we take a step back and do our jobs to support the organizations we work for while also acknowledging how these circumstances are impacting us as individuals?
• Evolving work pressures and the impact of stress
  • This is a new situation for all of us – the personal aspects but also professional. Whenever there is a rapid and dramatic change to what we do, it will bring a lot of challenges with it, that alone is disruptive for people within “normal” circumstances
  • These changes have resulted in staff redeployments and changing how we think about doing our work along with the ongoing need to adapt
    • Significant shifts in the nature of roles that are typically focused on in-person relationships/events. If digital wasn’t IT before all of this, then it is now
  • We are being asked to do more with less. All while trying to reframe these challenges into an opportunity
    • We want to show up and deliver given all of the massive challenges that the world is facing, but on top of all of that pressure we are also dealing with our lives outside of the “office”
• How can we manage and support our team and co-workers?
  • Openness about how we are doing and speaking to it regularly – not carrying those feelings around silently is huge right now. Creating a space to have open conversations about how you are doing with friends and family
  • Creating these spaces is a crucial part of a leader’s work – we can’t get through these challenges without an engaged workforce
    • This is an ultra-marathon, and we are only halfway in. There is much further to go, and we have to care for one another to get there — play the long game here
  • Team Support Ideas:
    • Intentionally set up a time to hear how employees are doing from a human to human point of view
    • Weekly conversations that have nothing to do with work — getting the team to build personal connections has bonded them in ways that we have never seen before
    • Look to see what resources psychology departments are offering
    • Schedule a 30-minute mindful meditation block on everyone’s calendar
    • Schedule regular town hall meetings to discuss timely topics
    • Providing personal time off or leave hours that are COVID specific
    • Instituted a no lay off policy to help settle anxieties
    • Ensure that your team has the resources they need to be successful — do not assume everyone is playing on the same level
      • Example: stable internet access or children at home