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After countless lockdowns and quarantines, managers should forgive their employees for feeling overwhelmed and tired. The never-ending coronavirus pandemic has taken a serious toll on their general well-being, especially mental health. With the new normal knocking on our doors, staff members are aware of the fact their working lives are never going to be the same again. Now more than ever, managers should step up and take employee motivation to another level. Take a look at tips on how to motivate, engage, and help employees stay mentally strong in the post-pandemic world.
Give Employees Space
Most managers are still learning how to organize and manage business tasks through trial and error. One of the things they have been doing well, without a doubt, is providing employees with challenges, opportunities to interact and have fun. Still, they should remember to give employees space. This is particularly important if employees have to cope with heavy workloads and tight deadlines while still trying to juggle remote work and childcare. If an employee says their plate is already full, so they can’t take any more responsibilities at the moment, managers should respect that. Instead of causing stress to employees, managers should give them some space and support them all the way through.
Organize Coffee Breaks
Most remote employees will agree on one thing — nothing can replace a good old chat by the water cooler or coffee maker. In these highly unusual circumstances, managers still have to find a way to keep employees connected and close. One of the most common alternatives to office chit-chat is virtual get-togethers during which employees enjoy a warm drink or a meal along with a coworker’s company. These virtual events are informal meaning that staff members can talk about their interests, hobbies, or life outside work. They are a good way for employees to socialize and blow off some steam. More importantly, during the virtual breaks, it is easier to notice when someone is struggling with interpersonal relationships. If you notice this, reach out to them. If they seem open to help, or ask for help, send them some of the articles about interpersonal psychotherapy on BetterHelp.com.
Allow Time for Fun
Lockdowns may have saved lives and prevented the virus from spreading to some extent. However, they have stressed most people out. Unable to go out and visit their family and friends, employees have become isolated despite keeping in contact with coworkers. Since mental health problems have an impact on employee productivity and engagement, managers have come up with ideas to relax employees a bit. Namely, they have allowed time for fun activities. For example, quizzes, online bingo, happy hours, creative contests, or workshops are some of the activities employees could participate in. The best part is they usually take place on Fridays thus ending a weary week on a high note. As a result, employees no longer feel isolated but close with their team members despite social distancing and remote work.
Change the Routine
Spending weeks or entire months in lockdowns can harm employees. As a matter of fact, it can make them settle into a fixed and monotonous routine. They spend their days the same way — juggling work and family commitments without being able to leave their home except for running quick errands. It becomes their natural rhythm. To freshen up things in the remote office, managers should do what they can to change the usual lockdown routine. For instance, they can launch fresh and exciting initiatives or change the way regular activities are being done. A change in the routine will make business aspects exciting for employees and bring fresh perspectives to the table.
Offer Reassurance
Whether we like it or not, the pandemic is still more or less present in employees’ thoughts and everyday lives. This fact shouldn’t be neglected by the managers. That is why they should always put employees’ mental health and well-being first while making sure business goals are being met. Remaining calm and relaxed while the pandemic is still spreading is the key.
In times like these, employees need reassurance and support. Managers should point out the pandemic will end soon enough; things are bound to get better even though they will have to adapt to new circumstances. Since no one knows what the new normal will look like, managers too have to be prepared for whatever comes in the future business-wise. This includes practical and psychological knowledge on how employees will react to the new work concept and how to help them adjust more easily.
How Managers Can Make Employees’ Mental Health a Priority?
Encourage Creativity
Chances are, thanks to lockdowns, employees have plenty of creative energy pent up, which could be one of the reasons behind their stress and frustration. Managers can provide opportunities for releasing that energy to employees and benefit from their creativity. The creative activities and tasks are simultaneously fun and a perfect way for employees to get out of their heads and stay sane. Innovative business solutions and ideas can help business pick up where it left off before the pandemic.
In the end, lockdowns have made employees feel overwhelmed and weary. To help them stay sane when the world is going mad, managers can give our tips a try. As a result, employees will stay mentally strong, engaged and motivated for new business adventures.
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