Do your employees have faith in your ability to lead them through the pandemic? According to a new study, only about a third of workers think their company will come out stronger after COVID-19. If you’re hope to come out on top in the coming months and the year ahead, you need the confidence and commitment of your workers.
There are three steps you can take to gain the trust and buy-in of your teams as you work through pandemic-related challenges:
- Create opportunities for connections. This means more than just weekly Zoom staff meetings. Look for ways to connect workers across departments and levels. Consider games or team challenges that partner people from different jobs and departments to work on a task, solve a puzzle, or devise solutions.
- Be vulnerable. Be there for your workers and keep an open door as much as possible. Be strong but empathetic. Let employees know you understand their feelings and fears. Give them a say in changes and the establishment of new processes and systems.
- Ask questions. Don’t wait for people to come to you with concerns or problems. Walk around and ask how people are doing, what they need, and what would make their lives and work easier or better during these challenging times.