Given the times we are currently living in and the added stress of COVID-19, protests and elections, it is more important than ever to be kind to and look after the people in your life – your family, your colleagues and your employees. The concept of “mateship” has a long history in Australia and developed initially due to the hardships of survival in a very rugged land, and then was reinforced through the comradery of the military during a number of wars. Mateship is still alive and well as articulated in this article from a few years ago.
In my career I’ve tried to apply a number of principles to taking care of the people I worked with as outlined below:
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- Set very clear expectations regarding behavior, performance and targets;
- Effectively and regularly communicate on how the team and individuals are performing as well as the overall status and health of the business;
- Build a sense of shared purpose and find opportunities to strengthen team spirit and comradery;
- Look after the individuals who are part of your team – look for opportunities to help them develop and advance in their career;
- Appropriately reward the team (as a collective) and individuals for their achievements and be clear as to why they are receiving the rewards and the impact they are driving;
- Remember to also find small aspects of their performance to praise and if some aspect of a person’s performance is lacking, redirect early rather than waiting for it to become a major issue;
- Set very clear boundaries that relate to how the team and individuals will be treated, particularly with respect to people in power positions such as investors, board members and customers.
In addition, the current situation calls for more:
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- Informally check in with people to not only inquire about work-related issues, but also each individual’s mental health, the well-being of their family and loved ones, and where appropriate, to provide reassurance and more meaningful support;
- Be compassionate, understanding and flexible with how employees can achieve work goals while taking care of their own personal and family needs;
- Compassion will be particularly necessary if during these tough times, you have to make hard business decisions resulting in downsizing of either facilities or staff – communicate clearly, recognize people will be emotional, look after those affected as well as those who are not impacted, and above all ensure everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Here is another article that describes some ways to show you care.
While looking out for your mates, also remember to take care of yourself – we’re all facing an emotional ride that will last for quite some time. Stay safe and healthy!