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** NEW ** For the week of April 12th ** Strategic People Consultant and Workplace Champion, Judy White, SPHR, GPHR, HCS leads the discussion during the week of April 12th. Post your questions here and please be sure to stop back during the week for updates:
Workplace Advice: Re-connecting the Recession Battered Workplace
One employee asks, “My company downsized last year and I’m concerned that more layoffs could be coming. We lost a few people on my team and it’s a challenge trying to keep pace with the work and the hours. Many of them are worried about losing their homes and having enough money for any savings or future health care expenses. Every day we’re feeling more and more stressed out. How can I help my co-workers who have become more difficult to work with lately from all of this stress and help my company keep good customers?”
Dear Anonymous,
Your display of compassion for your fellow co-workers and desire to help your company be successful during these recessionary times is admirable. During difficulties, there can be a tendency to fall into patterns of negative thinking and action. The ability to maintain a positive attitude during trying times is challenging and requires commitment.
I sense your willingness and leadership in trying to make some improvements in your workplace. Without knowing more specifics regarding your situation and workplace culture, it’s difficult to offer very specific feedback. However, let me attempt to address your general concerns and offer a few thoughts about how you can help to infuse your workplace today.
Performance Factor. If it’s been awhile since your last performance review, don’t wait another day to obtain clear direction and valuable feedback. Given the layoffs and changes in your workplace last year, goals and objectives may have shifted. Therefore, schedule time to meet with your manager so you may discuss the goals of the organization and how it affects the department (unit). Activities that do not support the organizational objectives should be eliminated. Take the steps necessary to ensure your activities are aligned with the mission and expectations of your current position. Seek specific feedback on your current performance, how you can improve it further and also present two learning goals; areas that enhance your professional growth and will also add value to serving the customer and improve the company.
Healthier You. Give yourself permission to take care of your health. Balancing today’s economic challenges between work, family, school and/or aging parents can have negative affects on our health. Therefore, reflect on your priorities and take the necessary steps toward your wellness goals. Set reasonable goals. A 10-minute walk during the lunch hour, or 1-day–sugar-free/salt-free each week can add up. You may also want to consider an on-site “walking-club” at work during lunch break where you and your colleagues can step away from the workplace and re-energize. Or consider a “water-club”, where employees forego sugared colas and focus on increasing their water intake to improve weight-loss, or consider a “community garden”, where employees contribute to planting, maintaining and growing a vegetable garden during non-work hours on land provided by the company. The benefits of eating more nutritious vegetables, helping employees save money on their weekly grocery expenses, while improving overall team relations are but a few of the rewards employers and employees are reaping. Small, positive, steps over time accumulate and can build lasting dividends.
Take work out work. Empower yourself and initiate conversations with your boss to look at new ways to take work out of work. Develop ways to create efficiencies in your workload and among your co-workers. Are there steps that can be consolidated to improve the time on completing a report or spreadsheet? Are there ways to utilize Instant Messaging among your team to help expedite answers when trying to resolve customer issues? Are there department reports that are done that no one has time to read anymore?
Develop a list of ways that can improve efficiencies, quality and task sharing in the department. Schedule time to meet briefly with your boss and review the list. Your boss will value your initiative and desire to take ownership. Encourage your boss to invite other members of the team to add to the list and watch what can happen.
Dealing with Difficult Co-Workers. Continue to demonstrate respect to your fellow co-workers. Be empathetic to their situation; however, be honest with your colleague (s) if behavior crosses the line and becomes inappropriate. Silence only allows toxicity to spread; while courageous conversation may feel uncomfortable, confronting reality imparts accountability and provides a healthier alternative toward a more productive workplace culture.
We appreciate your posted question today and for connecting with us. We invite you to come back and visit us again soon.
