Support Your Team Through the Anxiety of Reopening

 
Mon 12 July 2021

Support Your Team Through the Anxiety of Reopening

Many people have mixed feelings about going back to the office. Some may be excited to see their colleagues in person while others might prefer to still be working from home. As a manager, how can you help your team navigate this tricky transition? Start by finding out how people are feeling. Consider conducting an anonymous survey (assuming your team is big enough) and use the insights you glean to address their concerns. For example, if several people mention health or safety in the survey, you can make sure the team knows precisely what precautions the company is taking. Next, maintain as much flexibility as possible. Allow people to experiment with different ways of working to help them ease back into in-person or hybrid work. Finally, don't make promises you can’t keep, such as assuring people that their careers won’t be impacted by working from home or that they can do so indefinitely. Failing to follow through on commitments is a surefire way to alienate your team in the long run.
This tip is adapted from “Help Your Employees Who Are Anxious About Returning to the Office,” by Amy Gallo