I know that times today are strange and uncertain. Things we once took for granted now seem taboo. The idea of setting, let alone achieving career-oriented goals may seem far-fetched. However, the world hasn’t stopped turning and while business (and employee engagement) may look different, it’s still moving and progressing. Don’t let your career aspirations fall to the wayside because operations have changed. Strong employees and leadership have an outstanding chance to shine when things seem uncertain.
Your skills and experiences are things that are in your zone of control and should be utilized to help propel the company forward. Applying useful talents to new, evolving situations gives you a chance to highlight your strengths. Especially when management will be looking for strong leadership. Lean on what you excel at and craft new ideas, methods, and procedures. This will allow you to employ those skills to the best of your ability.
Similarly, don’t try and control and structure things that are in flux and uncontrollable. You’ll not only drive yourself (and possibly your boss) crazy, you’ll waste valuable time and resources that could be better spent someplace else on a task that will drive the company forward. Really it’s all about leaning into your zone of genius and using it to be the most useful you can be during a time when the company will likely appreciate it the most.
Depending on your workplace, you may be working remotely or on a different schedule than before. More businesses than ever are offering flexible working conditions but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be as focused on your work as if you were in the office. Even if you’re working in the office, it can still be easy to become distracted by all of the changes. Not to mention lose sight of the goals the company has set. For some, doing the bare minimum will suffice. With all of the chaos, some may not prioritize work or may become very distracted with everything else that’s occurring.
If you’re serious about moving up you cannot let this slow you down. You cannot be OK with doing the bare minimum. Put your skills to use, listen to what’s needed, and make a plan. You want to be regarded as a vital part of the company and you can’t do that by coasting and merely completing the minimum of what’s expected of you.
When times get tough there is usually always an opportunity for strong leaders to emerge. You need to seize these opportunities when they present themselves so you can demonstrate how useful and versatile you are. Those who step up when it’s needed the most come to mind easily when it’s time to move people up the corporate ladder. Stepping into a leadership role allows you to put your skillset on display and show you can not only handle the work but also the pressure that goes along with doing business in unpredictable periods.
Be the best leader you can by asking management what the most crucial tasks to focus on are and make it your missions to ensure that those things are taken care of. You don’t want to waste time on menial tasks so getting clear on priorities is essential if you want to make a lasting impression. You want to be seen as an indispensable part of the company, and working on crucial tasks is a way to stay on everyone’s radar and make yourself stand out.
It might not be full steam ahead, but we’re also not out for a Sunday drive. Uncertainty breeds leaders. Find opportunities to step up and excel and it won’t go unnoticed. This is the perfect time to speak up, lend an extra hand, and show how dedicated and skilled you truly are. You need to look for opportunities and be vocal about rising to the challenge. Essentially you want to be as useful as possible which will highlight your skills and strengths. You can still climb the corporate ladder, it just may have a few wobbly rungs to conquer first.
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of Blazing Agency and My Big Idea®. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.
The past weeks and months have been draining. Uncertainty, loss of control, and the unknown can lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion. Finding new ways to do business while dealing with other work/life stressors can push people to their breaking point.
It’s important for your work ethic and personal wellbeing that you find ways to refuel during these stressful times. Signs it may be time to refuel and recharge your batteries include nagging fatigue, lack of focus, frustration, and negative emotions. You’re no good to others if you can’t take care of yourself so here are five practical ways to avoid burnout during these crazy times.
In order for our body to repair itself from the stressors we place it under each day, we need to ensure we’re getting adequate sleep. Having a solid sleep routine can make a world of difference in how you recover from the day.
You can start setting an alarm 30 minutes to an hour before bed to remind yourself to wind down and prepare for sleep. Stop checking your work email, unplug, and read a book or listen to music to allow your body to get into a relaxed state. Allowing your body to restore itself at night is one of the best things you can do to stay sharp and avoid feeling sluggish and overwhelmed the next morning.
This will look different for everyone but self-care is simply identifying something that nurtures you and makes you feel good and making it a priority to engage in these activities on a regular basis.
Pre-COVID, perhaps you enjoy going to a local coffee shop in the morning and reading the paper before tackling the day. Maybe a regular manicure or spa treatment keeps you feeling your best or going to a local art exhibit. These seemingly small indulgences can have a profound impact on our mental wellbeing as they allow us to recharge our batteries and spend time doing something that makes us feel good.
Depending on your geographical location right now, your ability to do some of these activities may be limited. Find other ways to take care of yourself. Remember that taking time for yourself and is critical.
Finding a form of exercise that you can partake in on a regular basis does so much more than just improve your physical health. Exercise reduces our body’s stress-causing hormones and also provides us with endorphins which in turn make us happier. Additionally, people who exercise regularly typically have more energy throughout the day.
You don’t have to participate in intense workout sessions to reap these benefits. Relaxing yoga, daily walking, hiking, or dance classes will all yield the desired outcome of less stress and those happy endorphins that follow when you’re done.
It can be so easy to use work and deadlines as an excuse to miss out on social gatherings but in reality, staying social can make you more productive. Whether it’s dinner, a movie, or Sunday brunch, staying connected helps us restore our emotional wellbeing which can make us more productive at work. It also allows us to see ourselves as a valued person outside of the office and connect with people outside of our work social circle.
At the time of this writing, COVID is curtailing many of these “typical” social activities. It is vital that you find a work-around to stay connected and social during this time. A Zoom call may not be your favourite thing, but after a few jokes between you and your best friend, I bet the effort will be well worth it.
It can be really hard not to be a ‘yes’ person with your work or family or personal life. Saying yes to every single extra project or event can seem like a sure-fire way to impress those around you with your tenacity. Problem is, the more you take on, the more thinly you stretch yourself, and the less likely you are to perform all of your tasks to the level you are capable of. If your plate is already full - don’t add more just to look better. Say yes to the things that really matter and practice saying no when there are other avenues to complete those tasks. Take some time to learn about an effective boundary setting, it will do wonders to help improve your energy.
If you find yourself consistently feeling overwhelmed, unable to focus, and easily agitated, you may be close to a burnout. Taking the time to refuel, distress, and set some new boundaries and habits can make all the difference during these times. You can only do your best work when you are taking care of yourself.
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of Blazing Agency and My Big Idea®. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.
COVID has tested even the most well-prepared companies’ contingency plans. With any transition, there is an adjustment period. Right now we’re making all types of adjustments to our personal lives and the way we conduct business - all at once. As you navigate this new, seemingly never-ending, unchartered territory there are a few things that can help you effectively lead your team and keep your overwhelm at bay.
Strong leadership is crucial, now more than ever. Same with employee engagement. You know that. However, you probably didn’t expect your personal, financial, emotional, and professional life to be up-ended all at the same time while being called to lead in a manner you haven’t prepared for.
You may be facing staffing challenges - deciding whether to cut staff to save margins or reduce hours across the board to save talent. These are hard decisions that often don’t have one right or wrong answer.
It’s completely understandable if you are feeling nervous or vulnerable about your own position within the company or how this might affect your next step up the corporate ladder or the next expansion for your own business. Right now it feels as if nothing is guaranteed. How are you supposed to lead others and ensure you're doing all you can for employee engagement when you’re uncertain about where you yourself stand? The thing to remember is - you can only control your own actions. However unfair or uneasy may make you feel.
What you can do is continue to lead your team with clarity and drive. If you are feeling uneasy, you can only assume some of your team is as well. Acknowledging that things are different and changes need to be made is critical. This isn’t the time to pretend it’s business as usual, because it isn’t. Many teams are working remotely, trying to navigate working from home, perhaps with children, and to expect things to carry on as they did before is a recipe for disaster, tone-deaf, and frankly isn’t going to be tolerated. Adjust your expectations for yourself and your employees and be prepared to make changes on the fly.
It may be true that there are some large hurdles in front of your business right now. Problems that seem extremely overwhelming to solve in the best interest of your clients and employees. To battle overwhelm break your goals down into small, bite-sized chunks that will give you motivation as you complete them. Choose a few very easy tasks to complete first and go from there. Sometimes getting a few small wins and some momentum is all you need to get the ball rolling.
Take time to refuel. Now more than ever self-care is essential. Be sure to get enough rest, enough downtime, eat well. It is vital you take care of your physical and mental health daily. This will help you to have enough energy and positivity to lead by example for your team.
While it’s important to be a strong leader, it’s also important that you’re honest with your team. As you know, employee engagement needs to be authentic. Don’t fake answers you are unsure of or make promises you may be unable to hold up.
Know that this situation won’t last forever. While the business may not go back to exactly how it was before, everything is adaptable. Stay focused, keep your team on task, and know that flexibility is a strength. Be willing to roll with the punches. This is an entirely new world we’re dealing with, no one is expecting people to have all the answers. The best we can do is assess the current situation and make a plan. If things change, don’t get discouraged. Reassess and move on. Dwelling on a situation that is no longer relevant isn’t going to help anyone.
Times like this call for a rise in leadership. Lean into your strengths. In testing times, greatness can emerge if it’s nourished well. Don’t shy away from the challenge and remember to refuel.
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of Blazing Agency and My Big Idea®. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.
There is no way around it - these are stressful times. Not only are people worried about the economy and their jobs, but they’re also concerned about the personal wellbeing of themselves and their families. Despite us being months into the pandemic, the uncertainty feels like the only thing that is certain. Still, the business must go on. Employee engagement is a must.
So what does a business owner or company leader do to keep their team motivated and ensure employee engagement when things seem to keep changing and there’s so much uncertainty?
First of all, acknowledge how different things are now. While it would be nice and perhaps easier to ignore how much has changed, it’s not realistic. People are missing that everyday connection we were used to. Chatting with co-workers, having lunch together and other seemingly mundane tasks really kept us connected. More than ever, people are feeling isolated so if you can acknowledge this while also offering creative solutions that allow people to connect it will go a long way to helping their mental health. This will be a long game.
Even though we’re all in the same storm, we are not in the same boat. Communicating your empathy with the current situation and making your team feel heard and understood with their varied circumstances is extremely important. Communication during troubling times is of the utmost importance. Be very clear on what you are doing to adapt to these changes, let people feel heard, and have an open line for information to be passed to. Frequent communication assures your employees feel like you care about their wellbeing and are be vigilant in your efforts to stay on top of the situation. It also provides confidence in leadership and when people feel confident in their leaders they also tend to be much more productive. What may feel like over-communication is the right amount of communication.
Also, it may not be realistic in every situation but having some extra flexibility can be a wonderful morale boost for your employees. People’s routines and schedules have been completely thrown for a loop so offering some wiggle room with regular policies can allow for some much-needed relief. Many people are dealing with lots of changes all at once - whether it be having their children home full time, routines changing, tiring of this “new” routine, limited access to services or new working environments - and extending some leeway may be just what they need to take the edge off. Personal stress is a productivity killer so anything you can do to help mitigate that will go a long way.
Make your employees feel safe in their environment. Have a solid plan in place to deal with COVID and make certain that all employees know what is expected and offered to help combat the issue in the workplace when it is safe for your team to return to the office. Having protocols in place shows your employees that you are concerned about their health and can make them feel taken care of and appreciated. Yes, there are legal requirements for things you must provide in the workplace but anything extra you can do to make people feel safe and comfortable will be welcomed.
Help keep your employees focused by keeping goals at the forefront of communication. Break large goals up into smaller pieces and celebrate the milestone wins along the way. Taking the time to acknowledge those who have made significant contributions to projects or deadlines will set your team up for success as positive energy multiplies and spreads. There is no doubt that maintaining motivation during difficult times is a tall order, so get creative in ways you can make your employees feel appreciated and valued. Simple gestures can make a big impact.
This is an odd time, to say the least, and everyone handles this type of stress differently. Some days you may have everything in check, the next day you don’t. It is OK.
Check-in on your employees, be empathetic, and lead by example. A lot of people still haven’t gotten used to the isolation they have been dealing with for months. Even if you can’t be physically close, try and find ways for your team to come together to create community and comradery. It doesn’t have to be forced, a daily team check-in can serve both business and routine needs for your employees to still feel part of your company.
Communicate, celebrate the wins, and keep your goals in check. More than anything, people need strong leadership right now so set a strong example and your team will thank you.
How are you being strong for your team? How are you continuing employee engagement? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of Blazing Agency and My Big Idea®. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.
There’s no doubt that it can be remarkably difficult to focus on the future when you’re in the middle of an extremely trying time. Simply trying to manage day by day tasks can prove challenging in an ever-changing environment. Despite being months into COVID-19, do forgive yourself if you feel like you haven’t gotten it together yet.
This pandemic has had a massive impact on the economy and practically every business has been greatly affected by this global event. Certain things may feel completely out of control but it’s important to keep focused on your business and what you can do to move it forward so you can come out of this situation in the best position possible.
While it may feel like all you can do is survive as a business owner, it’s important to be diligent and purposeful in your goal setting now more than ever. While there is much that is out of our control we can manage the direction we’d like to see our business go in the future - even if that means pivoting or exploring different avenues.
While long-term goal setting is very important, right now the focus should be on short-term goals. By using short-term goals we’re keeping very focused on what is happening now and creating a practical response. With so much changing so quickly it may feel like a waste of time to spend too much time on the long haul goals when we just don’t know what the future holds. Now, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t be thinking ahead, you always want to know the direction your business is heading in and have a plan in mind, rather my focus of this article is intended to allow you to be more fluid in how you go about achieving your goals.
Short term goals are also great because they build momentum and can deliver quick wins for your business. In difficult times having a series of wins can make things feel a little more stable and in control. Keeping a more narrow focus and setting goals based on the current economic climate allows you to better serve your clients and make necessary adjustments along the way. Short term goals also allow you to see what’s working and what isn’t much quicker as you’ll be evaluating things more frequently. This means you won’t waste time or energy on things that aren’t serving your business or your clients effectively.
There is no doubt that these can be scary, overwhelming times. Uncertainty over what’s next has left many business owners feeling paralyzed over what their next move should be. A few things to take comfort in is knowing that economy has survived trying situations multiple times. In fact, since 1962 Canada has gone through four recessions and the economy has always seen strong growth in the period that follows.
It may not be smooth sailing. The ideas and goals you had previously set may not be viable or realistic during this time. That’s OK. As business owners and leaders, we adapt. We take stock of our current situation, evaluate, plan, and put that plan in motion. Don’t stress or beat yourself up if it feels like you are having to change your goals more frequently during this time. If you are changing it means you are paying attention to the current situation and modifying as necessary.
Be clear about your goals to those on your team and focus on keeping them productive and making the changes needed to adapt. Remember, economic hardship has happened multiple times in the past and we’ve always pulled through. Businesses that focus on changing to better serve their clients have actually flourished after downturns. Setting short term, tangible goals won’t only help to keep your business moving forward, it will also help with morale and give focus during these times of uncertainty.
Drop me a line to let me know what some of your short term goals are.
Michele Bailey is president and CEO of Blazing Agency and My Big Idea®. These two lines of business work congruently to support her clients’ success.