The big and small companies have to move forward in the midst of uncertain disruptions. The unprecedented tug in the macroeconomic sphere due to the spread of COVID-19 has taught the world that small firms and major companies are all in this transformation together. They need to get accustomed to the new ways of growing bigger in uncomfortable situations and embrace the new possibilities on the contradiction of loss faster than ever.
Why is This Situation Difficult for Business Leaders and HR?
As a leader, you might find yourself in dire straits when it comes to communicate with your staff and keep up the same zeal of work in the organization during the daunting crisis of Coronavirus. It is becoming more challenging every new day as the number of COVID positive patients is increasing. The current havoc is not going to leave the world behind and the economy will continue to crash with every lockdown. It is natural for the employees to get hot under the collar if the company decides to announce salary cuts or to lay off star performers due to redemption of the huge loss. Your company will try to shrink from its formal size due to the shortcomings of successful deals and dropping revenues. The best assets of the company have to work remotely for an infinite period and people with work from home is still a new culture for many sections of the vast economy. If you are at your wits’ end on how to elaborate to workers that the increment is not coming or terminating old employees then these tips that are proven to be highly effective in your situation.
1. Honest Conversation With Proper Transparency:
No matter how difficult the situation is, you must have a good amount of communication with all the employees individually. If things get good or bad, it is your duty to let the top to bottom of the company know about what is coming for them. It is a good idea to keep your employees abreast of the latest situation, especially when your business is bleeding for almost a year. You can shield them from the real fact and procrastinate but will do no good to your business. Be open and honest with the clients as well as with all the workers of the agency because misleading information will rise only chaos within massive chaos.
“Communicate what is happening. Employees need to know, and they should hear it from the most senior leader," Littlefield told Business News Daily. He helps out the leaders with three key points that will make the matter smooth like butter.
Being a leader, you have to address what is happening in your office deals to the cubical workers, what decisions you’ve reached to suspend the crux of the matter, and how you are going to execute the plan.
2. Show Courage and Empathy at the Same Time:
When a leader speaks in front of hundreds of vulnerable souls, he must do it by showing empathy to everyone’s condition. It doesn’t mean that you will leave your confidence, whoomph, and bright speech at home. As a leader, you should focus on how the team should move forward and you have to pass them the right information.
3. Don’t Break the Bad News Only Via E-mail:
As time is tough, sometimes you have to take undesirable decisions to save your company from the fire of adversity. You have to share the bad news with your employees then don’t just do it over an e-mail or tell your HR to handle it. At this time of crisis, formality is not required, what you seek is to understand the difficulties he/she would be and that’s why at lease make a video call and show yourself that you are sorry to cut all the ties with him. If he is physically present at your office, then call him to your cabin or meet him on his floor to bid him farewell.
4. The Tone of the Message:
The feeling of what you are trying to deliver is the main part of the story. Your message should be authentic and heartfelt. There is a small difference between the corporate talks and when you are suggesting something as a leader. Craft your message with your intentions and the keywords that will motivate your workers. Use a different tone from the profit-making long plans of a corporate holding statement.
5. Body Language:
You should act like a leader of a large group. Hold the firm look and talk with confidence before the camera or in front of the people if you are physically present in the meeting. You cannot appear like the funny bone and crack a joke during a seminar. Groom yourself before you face them and talk to them with a proper agenda. Share your thoughts, give them clarity, and don’t forget to appreciate people with empathy.
6. Make New Guidelines for the People With WFH:
As working from home seems to be the easiest option and smoothly run your company, you should look for making some changes that will help the employees with work. Things like providing laptops to everyone, connecting throughout the day via calls and e-mails to take care of problems, and some extra safety protocols should be added to your new list.
The whole world is praying for everyone’s safety and recovery from the deadly virus infection.
