professional relationships Archives - The Conscious Professional

Connecting with Your Workplace Community Mid-Pandemic

neil — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:00:45 +0000

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” – Shannon L. Alder on community

One of the biggest learning curves we have hit during lockdown is the reality of working remotely; from home. Of course, there are many lovely benefits to working from home; no more commuting, you can work in your pyjamas (unless you are in a Zoom meeting of course, in which case, a shirt and tie on top), you can manage your hours more flexibly, you have more family time and are spending less money in Pret.

However, it’s also prey tricky to work from home. There are more distractions at home, it’s more long winded to ask a colleague a question, home life and work life lines become blurred and, perhaps most distressingly, it is pretty lonely. One of the joys of a workplace is the community it creates, and working from home has robbed many of us of many little things about the bustle of a workplace that we didn’t know we’d miss. For one, I actually miss my commute, visiting the coffee shop where they know my name and my route through central London. I miss hearing about what is going on with others via their mouths and not through WhatsApp. I miss collaborating in real time with somebody who is half a metre away.

It looks like home working is going to be heavily mandated for a while longer. So, for the sake of everybody’s wellbeing and resilience, here are a few ideas on how to connect with your work community mid-pandemic.

1. Social Meetings

Of course, meeting socially is complex at the moment, but what I am suggesting is something slightly different. A great idea is to schedule a weekly online meeting (via Zoom, for example) with your colleagues, but one that is not about work. This meeting is just an opportunity to catch up with what is going on in people’s lives, how they are feeling, and to just give everyone an opportunity to connect in a more relaxed way. The little things about people’s lives that you pick up in a workplace are what give workplace communities their richness and their vibrancy. These things also help you to know your colleagues better. A weekly online meeting may not replicate that entirely, but it will certainly help.

Another reason that this is important is something a friend of mine mentioned to me recently. He is a team leader at his work, and through lockdown has had to give a lot of support to those who live alone. For many people who live alone, the workplace is a primary source of human contact. This casual online meeting is also working towards helping those people, and trying to boost their resilience.

2. Walking Meetings

Indoor situations are much more risky than outdoor situations at present. If is it possible, why not put an afternoon aside each week to meet and have your work meeting outdoors? The weather is still likely to be pleasant for a few months, and getting out of the house is really important to ensure that you don’t become lethargic… this will only impede your productivity. Get outside, find a park and have a meeting that way.

3. Encourage Collaboration

Where possible, try to ensure that your colleagues aren’t working on things solo too often. Encourage group projects and champion collaboration (even if it is just asking a colleague to look over some work). Fostering communication ensures that your colleagues stay connected and in tune with each other. It also helps to remind everybody that they are still part of something bigger than themselves, that they are not just slogging away on their own.

4. Just Check In

I have been guilty in the last few months of moping a little and wondering why nobody has checked in on me in a while. The likelihood is that many people, friends and colleagues alike, are feeling the same. So, perhaps, you should be the one to reach out. My suggestion is that you simply pick one person a day to send a quick message to, just to check in. You will soon find that your interaction will increase and your mood, hopefully, will lift.

By Chris Thomson

If you are somebody who works and lives at home alone and are missing your workplace community, make sure you look after yourself! Self-Care During Solo Isolation

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Access Free Live Meditations & Energy Transmissions

Inside our private Facebook Group, The Conscious Professional Mindful Community where Neil leads live weekly community events. Join now for free.

2. Learn To Meditate With Neil Seligman In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

3. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Conscious Coaching Partnership is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil here.

4. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post Connecting with Your Workplace Community Mid-Pandemic appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

Building Trust in the Workplace

neil — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 14:00:25 +0000

“Trust is the glue of life. It is the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It is the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” – Stephen R. Covey

Healthy workplaces rely on many things to remain energetic, productive and, ultimately successful. Among these things are clear communication, agreed rules and codes of conduct, honesty, focus and willing, but perhaps the most important element is trust. Trust is the core to any relationships, and is just as important in your work life as it is in your personal life.

However, as you may be aware, trust is not guaranteed, and it does not come as standard on day one of a working relationship, trust must be both earnt and kept. Here are a few thoughts on how to best foster this most important of virtues in your workplace.

1. Trust Others

Trust goes both ways. In order for you to know you can trust somebody, sometimes you need to take a chance on them and just trust them anyway. Trusting until proven untrustworthy is a much more positive outlook than to mistrust at the outset.

What also happens when you choose to trust others is that they are more likely to trust you in return. Offering trust is a good way to start off a working relationship in a really positive and productive way.

2. Be Reliable

This might sound obvious, but this is very important, especially early on in a working relationship; be trustworthy! Simple things such as being appropriately dressed, always being on time, being proactive and offering to take on responsibility account for many of the micro-behaviours that makes us appear trustworthy to others. Of course, I would advise that you carry this behaviour on, but when building a foundation of trust these standards of reliability are extremely valuable.

3. Be Transparent

Be open, be honest, be transparent. Nothing breaks trust like the withholding of information. If you are a trustworthy person, then you will have nothing to hide, so ensure that you are offering information openly and routinely, without being asked. This helps you to be seen, and helps you to actually become, a conscious team player.

4. Pay Attention

Trust can also be gained when you really pay attention to your colleagues. Notice how they are on a daily basis, and pay particular attention to their body language. We don’t always speak up when we are feeling down, but our bodies give away a great deal. If you can notice these signals in your colleagues and check in on them in a discreet and conscious way, they will not only feel seen and looked after, but trust will also be shared.

5. Don’t Gossip

The workplace can sometimes be complicated and messy, especially when some feel that others are behaving incorrectly or not pulling their weight as they should. I am not advising that these things be ignored, but these situations should be treated with kindness and respect. Gossiping behind peoples backs fuels resentment and negative energy in a team, and is counterproductive.

If you have a professional issue with somebody, try your best to deal with it in a mindful way. Perhaps you could have a quiet word with the offender or report behaviour in whatever way is mandated by your place of work. Not only is gossip not very nice, it is also unwise to become known as a gossip if you are hoping to be trusted.

6. Consistency

Trust is gained if others know what to expect from you. For this to happen you must remain consistent in your judgements and your behaviours. If colleagues feel that they can’t come to you with questions or issues for fear that you will react in an unpredictable way, you will not be seen as trustworthy.

7. Offer Praise When It’s Due

We all like to be seen. You may think it selfish to want praise, but it is, in fact, a normal part of being human and everyone deserves it. Praise and positive feedback builds confidence, positive attitudes and, of course, trust. Ensure that you praise your colleagues when it is due. Thanking someone for their help or broadcasting somebody’s professional achievements to the team make you look gracious and encourages others to strive for the same treatment.