During your time as a manager, you’ve faced a lot of challenges. However, nothing compares to leading your team through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the 1918 Spanish Flu was the most severe pandemic in recent history, there’s little-to-no precedent to follow. This means leaders like you have to forge your own path, figuring it out as you go.
Not knowing what to do and having few resources to turn to can be very stressful, but go easy on yourself. Just do your best and accept the fact that you’re going to make plenty of mistakes along the way. Use this advice as a starting point to lead your team to the best of your ability.
Trust Them
Empower employees by trusting them to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Right now, you have no choice but to loosen the reins. Sure, you can — and should — have regular check-ins, but take a step back and have confidence in the people you hired. They value their jobs and want to please you, so they’re going to do everything in their power to uphold the same standards they do at the office.
Be Compassionate
This unprecedented time has created major challenges for people. No doubt, some of your employees are handling the situation better than others. Be extra kind right now, because your team is doing the best they can. The last thing they need is stress from their boss adding to the anxiety they’re already feeling about the pandemic.
Put Their Well-Being First
Your bottom line is important, but it should never come before the health and safety of your employees. As the boss, you play a major role in your employees’ lives, so be their advocate. Don’t put business needs before their well-being by allowing them to be in a situation that could compromise their health.
It’s also important to regularly check-in with them to see how they’re doing. If someone is struggling, do everything in your power to help them — even if it means their job has to take a back seat for a bit.
Allow Flexibility
Right now, many of your employees are wearing several hats. Those with kids likely don’t have help, so they’re trying to do their jobs while entertaining younger kids and homeschooling older ones. Help them do it all by being as flexible as possible with work hours. If people don’t have to stick to standard business hours, allow them to work when it’s most convenient. Remember, your employees are fantastic, but they’re only human.
Keep People Connected
It’s easy for employees to feel alone right now, so help them come together as much as possible. Little things like having people stay signed onto instant messenger during work hours and holding video calls a few times a week can boost morale and remind people they’re in this together.
Need to hire during the pandemic? PrideStaff Dallas is here to help you find the perfect fit, so contact us today to discuss a partnership!
