ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 6, 2021 / The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of daily life, but one of the most drastic changes can be felt in the workplace. Early last year, employees cleaned out their offices and set up a new desk at their kitchen table, in the living room, or another area within their home. No longer were there corporate lunches or meetings in conference rooms -- working from home became the new norm.
Even as COVID-19 slowly begins to subside, the ripples of the pandemic can still be felt in the workplace today, as many still continue to work remotely. With most communication taking place over a computer screen, the challenge for many corporate officials now is finding a way to create a common sense of employee purpose post-pandemic.
Dee Agarwal, a leading entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor, has spent the past several months finding ways to strengthen and unify work teams amidst crisis.
'In a time when everything feels unsure, one thing that has to feel certain is your team's purpose,' says Dee Agarwal. 'How and when that purpose gets accomplished may look different amongst your employees, depending on their circumstances. But you need a strategy that unites them and grounds them -- something each individual can refer back to that will help them feel empowered in the workplace.'
Below are three of Agarwal's leading tips to creating a common employee purpose in your organization post-pandemic.
Listen to Your Workforce
While this should be a continual effort by leadership, listening to your employees has never been more critical than in the pandemic -- a time when everyone has faced disruption and challenges to some degree. Approaching conversations with a listening posture will help to ensure a high level of trust amongst teams, despite the lack of physical connection.
Data shows that there is a positive correlation between communication and engagement. According to McKinsey, employees that have experienced positive responses from their organizations are four times more likely to be engaged and six times more likely to report a positive state of well-being.
'You can't establish a common purpose if team members have personal concerns that are impairing their work life,' says Dee Agarwal. 'Find opportunities to touch base in both group and individual settings to hear team member's needs.'
Support Employee Emotional Health
Not only is physical health of utmost importance for your organization, but fostering emotional health amongst your team is more vital than ever. According to a study by Hibob, mental health and wellbeing have dropped an alarming 33% since the start of the pandemic. Furthermore, according to Principal Financial Group, 44% of business owners report a decline in employee morale due to the pandemic.
'There's no productivity without proper health,' says Deepak Agarwal. 'Furthermore, your team can have a strong purpose but won't be able to accomplish it if their physical health needs are being neglected. I recommend demonstrating compassionate leadership that is both vulnerable and empathetic, and responding with a good balance of optimism and realism.'
Make time in the schedule to connect as a team online to discuss morale, employee concerns, and to engage in mental health seminars and online events.
Encourage Connection
There's no question that communicating over a screen fails to produce the same degree of collaboration and connectedness as working together in person. Working remotely, especially in industries where working in teams or groups is prevalent, can make employees feel isolated and create barriers to effective functioning.
However, making efforts to foster team connectedness is still important, even if it may feel awkward at first. Investing in virtual team-building games, conversation starters, and cultural activities can help provide mental breaks needed to recharge throughout the workweek.
'It's much easier to rally around a purpose with people. Having people who can redirect conversations, or rethink plans of action in accordance with specific goals and objectives, are essential for a productive team. But you've got to be connected first,' says Deepak Agarwal.
Consider allowing your team to brainstorm and develop big-purpose ideas, this way employees are motivated to fulfill the ideas they created themselves.
Establish Purpose
In a time where little things feel difficult, creating a strong sense of purpose in the workplace can help rally and motivate your workforce behind a cause or mission. By instilling a clear and common purpose for the organization as a whole, your team will likely feel aligned and driven to come together to achieve a common goal or shared vision.
'It's all about feeling things out. If we've learned anything through this pandemic, it's that we have to become adaptable,' says Deepak Agarwal. 'Your job as a leader is to adapt to employee needs and encourage that same kind of attitude throughout your team. The pandemic is still changing -- three months from now we'll likely be in a very different position than we are currently. The key will be changing with it, but keeping your purpose the same,' says Dee Agarwal.
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SOURCE: Dee Agarwal
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