We are all in this together

As the Ben Lee song goes "We are all in this together." In times of crisis, it is human nature to gather and be close to those we care about. Social distancing goes against this desire for physical connections and, for many, creates extra anxiety.

I encourage business leaders to think just as much about their employee’s mental health as their physical health. Businesses across the globe have people working from home or in smaller shifts. The people we are accustomed to seeing five days a week are no longer in site. Many people think of their colleagues as much more than work associate. These are our friends, an extended family.

As we put physical distance between everyone, let’s make sure we are still creating ways to connect. There is plenty of work to get done but leaders need to encourage their teams to come together in social ways as well. This will help maintain company culture and provide an opportunity to check-in on one another.

So, when there is no longer a break room, water cooler, coffee machine or office donuts to connect around, how do we create social space? Here are 3 suggestions:

1. Create a virtual “Break Room” on Microsoft Teams

Many organizations have started using Microsoft Teams for project management. It can also be a place to create an open space for team members to come together. Encourage a space for non-business talk.

At Geosys, we created this space with a special channel for kids who are home for extended periods called the “art wall” so they can post art projects while seeing what other Geosys kids across the globe are creating. In our general space, I’ve shared photos of what I’m baking (made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls are on todays menu) and silly memes to help us laugh.

Don’t have teams? No problem. Create a private group on Facebook or LinkedIn. There are lots of free platforms you can use to bring your teams together.

2.  Encourage coffee break conference calls

Host 10-15-minute conference calls with team members to check-in with one another on a personal level. It’s easy to fall into the trap of working around the clock when you work from home – especially for those without the not-so-subtle reminder from their kids that they are working “too much.” And encourage the use of video chat – it will be good to see people and not just hear voices!

Or, if you have a standing team meeting, make sure to carve out some time in the agenda to simply check-in with people. Make time for small talk.

3. What’s App Group Chat

What’s App (or similar apps) that provide free texting globally are a great way to connect people via mobile devices. Consider encouraging sharing photos of daily activity “challenges” to remind people to move around even when they might be stuck indoors for extended periods. Physical activity is important to maintaining mental health!

I hope these ideas get you thinking about ways to bring your people together and stay connected. There has been a lot of focus on the business and how we all continue to work – which is important. But don’t forget to be human along the way.

After all, we are all in this together.