Avoiding Pandemonium Amid The Pandemic

Six Reminders of How We Can Co-Create Greatness

Regardless of your own personal perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality is that it’s causing changes to our workplaces and lives that have the potential to turn this pandemic into pandemonium. Times like these require a little extra awareness and patience. In our continued commitment to help co-create better work places, so we can have better workdays and be more able and inspired to contribute to our communities in positive ways, we at Your Clear Next Step would like to offer some actionable ways we can navigate through some of the unprecedented workplace changes we’re seeing, with the goal of trying to create as much calm and stability as possible. In truth, these are all timeless suggestions, regardless of what’s going on around us, but are good reminders in this particularly trying time.

1. Emotions are running high.

Instead of co-creating negativity through careless conversations, let’s all apply some decent emotional intelligence to our interactions. Become aware of your own emotions, practice self-management, pay attention to where others are coming from, and take actionable steps to move conversations and relationships forward in positive, productive ways. Check out a few more tips on this one here.  

2. Rumors and speculation prevent accurate information from getting through.

Rather than contributing to rumors, rely on reputable, proven sources of information such as the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. Check the source of any for any piece of information you read or see anywhere besides these sources, and do not share information you’ve not verified.

3. Working remotely is a thing.

In some new and dramatically different ways, people are working remotely, rather than side-by-side in an office environment, and sometimes that brings its own challenges. Rather than adding to the challenge of remote work, get informed about how remote work is impacting you and your colleagues, and demonstrate patience and good problem solving. Need a refresher on some of the tips of working remotely? Check out this blog post.

4. Germs spread.

Pandemic or no pandemic, spreading and sharing germs in the workplace can create stress by spreading illnesses, thereby increasing the number of people who are unable to be fully productive. Avoid coming to work if you’re sick. Wash your hands regularly, using soap and water. And contribute to lower-germ environments by wiping down surfaces you’ve used, throwing away used Kleenex, keeping your hands away from your face, covering when you cough or sneeze. Looking for more tips? Check out this article.

5. You don’t know what’s going on in someone else’s head.

Demonstrating a little extra grace will be beneficial for all of us.

• A coworker dials in late to a meeting? It’s possible they’re trying to juggle the new demands of working remotely while their kids are home because schools have been closed. Give ‘em some grace.
• A colleague doesn’t send the info you were expecting to see when you were expecting to see it? It’s possible their internet connection failed, or some other tech challenge prevented them from doing the thing they said they would do. Give ‘em some grace.
• Your leader seems less open about the future than they usually are? It’s possible they’re engaged in complex conversations about material changes in the workplace that are still too uncertain to describe. Give ‘em some grace.
• An employee seems out of sorts, unusually irritable, or uncharacteristically sad? It’s possible they’re experiencing an emotional toll of loneliness or not being able to spend time with loved ones. Give ‘em some grace.

For a little more information to help you understand what's going on in your head, check out these tips to better mental health during a pandemic. 

6. A little bit goes a long way.

In situations like this, there are industries and professions where the daily work goes on, despite the trying circumstances, and there are industries and professions where the interruptions will cause lasting damage. Demonstrating a little bit of gratitude, a little bit of patience, and a little bit of willingness to see both sides will make a world of difference.

• Thank goodness for doctors, nurses, health care professionals, and first responders who are coming to work every day regardless of what else is going on. There are jobs that make a life-and-death difference, and the folks in these lines are still showing up, every day, despite the emotional and physical toll. If you know anyone in these fields, taking a moment to express gratitude to them would be a great investment of your time. You’ll lift their spirits, which, in turn, can help lift the spirits of others they interact with.
• Be aware that closures, delays, and cancellations are impacting large and small businesses all over the world in a wide range of industries and domains. Business leaders are making decisions and taking actions to protect their employees and their customers as best they can, and at the end of the day, there will be costs to bear from this situation. While it’s not your fault you don’t get to take that trip you were expecting to take, it’s not the airline’s fault either, and certainly not the fault of the individual on the phone with you. Be patient with customer service representatives, support local businesses where you can, and be willing to share the burden – if we all share some of the “pinch,” maybe no one company or person or industry will have to absorb quite as much of the “squeeze.”

So, there we have it, six simple reminders of ways we can all contribute to co-creating greatness and avoid pandemonium, especially in difficult times. What else would you offer? Join us on social media!