As we enter a period of renewal and change, Your Clear Next Step is committed to helping our customers make their businesses and workdays even better. We will be here to walk beside you, to listen, to connect, and to aid in your search for clarity. In doing so, we are offering a free, daily Zoom call, called Daily Connections, at 1:15pm (CDT) every weekday from 3/19/2020-5/1/2020.
These calls are a chance for us to share tips and discussion about relevant topics (working remotely, maintaining consistency in uncertain times, building relationships across geography, staying motivated, staying connected, etc) and network with each other to provide help and support during this time of change.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us today! The next call will be Thursday, April 9th at 1:15pm (CDT). Click here to join.
On today's call...
Sinikka shared a few tips about going the lifting spirits
How do we lift someone else’s spirits when they’re not here?
There’s an easy button, (and I’ll get to that) but right now, wouldn’t it be fun to put our brains and energy to something not COVID19.
- Figure out your why:
- Why do you want to lift their spirits? Was it something that triggered it, something they said, something you felt, some moment you thought of them? Knowing why is useful because it can help you find the best way to act.
- Do you need to just think about someone else for a beat? Did you hear specifically that they might need something?
- Being able to pinpoint the specific why, the specific thing that made you think of the other person, will lift their spirits in an even more powerful way.
- Figure out your relationship with them
- Friends, colleagues, boss, family, etc
- Get your head around who they are and what they mean to you and why you might want to lift their spirits
- Think about the ways you would usually interact with them. This will help you figure out how much time, money, space, you’ve got to dedicate to them, and what would be appropriate in this given circumstance
- Figure out what they need and what they like
- Who are they, how do they communicate, what kind of people are they, think of communication styles, think of introverts/extraverts/ language of appreciation, where they are in their life status right now (parents, grandparents, living in a crowded space, living alone, etc)
- You might not be able to meet their needs right now, but you might be able to meet their likes, and that can help lift their spirits despite their needs.
- On the other hand, it might be fun to meet their likes right now, but in their moment of need, meeting their needs can be the most powerful action you can take.
- Picture the best case scenario
- If you had all the time and all the money in the world, what would you do?
- Think about the best-case scenario will help you be more creative when you get to the next two steps.
- Understand your parameters
- How much money and time do you really have? What’s feasible right now? Physically, where can I go? What can I do?
- Maybe I can't go to their house to give them a hug, but I can sew them a blanket that feels like a hug. Or I could “draw” a hug on a piece of paper and mail it to them.
- Get some extra tips
- Check with your tribe or your network, ask Google, check for ideas on Facebook, browse through ideas from Pinterest, ask a coach or a mentor
- The ideas is to brainstorm with others and get some other ideas so you’re not limited by your own imagination.
- DWYSYWD!
- Do What You Said You Would Do!
- You’ve got to actually do it – don't just think about, plan it, or talk about it – but actually DO it!
Are 7 steps too many in this moment? Don’t worry, we’ve paired it down. Here's the easy button. Try these three simple steps:
- Think about who and why
- Get one idea of what to try
- Go and do
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Handwritten note
- Flowers
- Order local takeout and deliver to them
- Pick up groceries for them, and drop them off with germ wipes
- Memes
- Virtual flowers
- Chalk drawings on the sidewalk
- FaceTime/ Skype/ Zoom
- Parodies
- Happy hour
- Music
- Movies/other entertainment – Netflix has a “watch together” kind of thing
Here were some ideas and questions shared by the group:
- I’ve made a habit out of going for a walk and calling a friend as I do.
- I think we tend to underestimate our impact on others. So think outside of the box on the ways you can impact people because it will make an impact.
- We’ve started writing cards to people in nursing homes.
- I work in a big department and I have daily connection with lots of them, but then there are others who I haven't had as much contact with since we’ve been at home. So, I made a list of those people and I’ve been choosing one of them every day and sending them an email just to let them know I'm thinking about them.
- My sister-in-law had the idea of taking bird houses to the nursing home and planting it outside their window
- Virtual happy hours, form a new “habit” - invite others to a virtual happy hour with a small group, and enjoy fun conversation with them
- Use the Netflix program to watch a movie together
- Sew masks for someone
- If you’ve got young kids, bring your kids to play outside someone else’s house if you know that seeing you will lift their spirits
- A “traveling” six pack – fill it with beverages that might be fun, and drop it off at a neighbor’s (with a disinfecting wipe) and a note that says “Enjoy these, then refill the six pack and pass it on to someone else who would enjoy it”
- Drop off a beverage and an invitation to a Zoom block party or a Zoom happy hour (or if you can’t get them a beverage, invite them to a virtual “bring your own beverage” block party or happy hour
- Fresh cut flowers from your yard as the spring flowers start to bloom
- Pictures from your window of pretty and uplifting landscapes/flowers/birds/sunrise etc.
- With those who share your sense of humor, send funny memes, or posts
- Use your group’s “random” slack channel to infuse humor or fun or lighter topics.
- Positive anticipation of better days ahead
- Give a mini, socially-distanced concert outdoors outside a nursing home
- Just reach out and tell someone else you were thinking of them. It will go a long way.
