Things are opening up and although it's starting to look normal, it isn't. We're going to have to get used to working in a different normal.
The ‘new normal‘ isn’t so new anymore. But it is definitely different, and it’s here to stay.
Life is opening up, businesses getting back to work and employees returning from furlough. But, we can expect life to suddenly shutdown again as local lockdowns are likely to take place with little notice.
This means change. Rapid, unexpected, disconcerting change. How well leaders and their teams cope with that change will determine whether your organisations survives and thrives through the next critical 18-24 months.
Managing Turbulence and Change
To cope well with turbulence and change, people need to be optimistic, adaptable, self-sufficient and motivated. These qualities help an organisation to develop a resilient culture that enables it to innovate in the face of adversity and move confidently into an unpredictable future.
Fundamental here are the skills of emotional intelligence, resilience and motivation. We all possess these skills to a greater of lesser degree but it is how we use and develop them that will determine success as we move forward.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
As the workplace resumes, albeit remotely, there’s a tinge of sadness that we as still unable to be with our colleagues. For those of us who are fortunate to actually enjoy the company of our workmates, it’s difficult to contemplate the long journey ahead. We face a severe test of our emotional and social intelligence.
Never has emotional regulation and awareness or our regard for others been so important. Without the tiny tell-tale cues that we send/receive in person, we have to be more observant and attentive than ever to spot when someone, or indeed ourselves, are struggling.
Resilience in the Workplace
It goes without saying that perseverance and optimism are going to be vital to both organisation and individual. While some are lucky to have this in bucket-loads, many of us are more human and require support to maintain our bounce-back-ability. We are creatures of comfort and stability, content our pre-COVID environments. But these are a memory (for a while at least) and how adaptable we are in repurposing our assets (skills) will make all the difference.
It may be incredibly difficult to see it now, but being forced to find new ways of doing what we do, to do some Lateral Thinking, will have a positive outcome in the end.
Motivation in the Workplace
Motivation during turbulent times is difficult to manage, both both teams and their leaders. It’s no longer as simple as setting a target based on last year’s efforts. What happened last year is, well, so last year. What’s important is this year, and next year. Survive and thrive through the next 18-24 months, and you’ll know that you’re in a great place for the years after that.
Motivation must be a top priority. Collaboration while sitting alone and autonomy when working distantly will help your people to maintain their sense of purpose and wellbeing.
Use flowprofiler® to Support Your People
flowprofiler® supports and develops emotional intelligence, resilience and motivation in your teams and leaders. The assessment shines light on the traits and skills that you people use well, and those which they can improve. This benefits their wellbeing in the workplace and helps to avoid burnout while we all not only get used to our different normal, and whatever other normal lies ahead.
