A new year means a fresh start, and it’s an opportunity to leave bad habits in the dust and embrace positive new ways of working and living. To start, consider these changes:
- Turn the cameras on. Forget the excuses. Turn your camera on during Zoom calls to build rapport and understanding. Make it clear that it’s okay not to look perfect and that people won’t be judged for a messy room or a bad hair day.
- Take a break and time to chat. Yes, you need to focus on work during the course of the day, but it’s important to take a few minutes to stop and talk with your team. This will help increase loyalty and engagement, and it will enable you to promptly recognize any brewing problems or conflicts.
- Stop talking about getting back to normal. Some things will never go back to the way they were, and many people like the new ways of doing things. For instance, working from home has been productive and satisfying for many, and they will want to continue remote work at least some of the time. Talk realistically about what the future may look like and ask team members to share their visions.
