Managing Someone Whose Life Has Been Upended - Bruce Feiler
Managing Someone Whose Life Has Been Upended - Bruce Feiler*
https://hbr.org/2020/11/managing-someone-whose-life-has-been-upended
Here’s three things leaders need to know about helping during a pandemic in a minute or less on this article
The pandemic marks the first time in a century that the entire planet is going through the same disruption at the same time. The average adult experiences around three dozen disruptors (voluntary or involuntary). The author calls these events “lifequakes”. How can a leader help?
Share - going through a life transition is calm, empathic perspective by sharing “you will get through this”.
Remind transitions are a process and encourage colleagues to recognize progress by using symbolic gestures or experiences as a way of recognizing they’re going through a change and are ready for what comes next.
Paraclete note – a good model to follow is the Kubler Ross “Five stages of Grief” - Denial (it can’t be happening), anger (oh no, it is happening to me), bargaining (if I just do this it will be better), depression (well, that didn’t work) followed by acceptance (it will get better – mental acceptance, and it will get better for me – emotional acceptance)”.
Assure them we all go through these steps, and maybe offer them an observation of where you see them regarding the change and what may be next.
Encourage team members to open up about their challenges. There have been many previous times affecting many – World Wars, depression, and previous pandemics like the Spanish flu and H1N1. Share that everyone, even you, are dealing with the same kinds of adjustments and we will get through and be better.
Try this – is there someone on your team (or even you) struggling with a personal or professional aspect of the pandemic? Try the steps Feiler mentions and let me know how you did at david@paraclete-group.com
*HBR’s November 20, 2020 article in their “Managing People” segment features author Bruce Feiler article entitled “Managing Someone Whose Life Has Been Upended”. Feiler, B. (2020, November 27). Managing Someone Whose Life Has Been Upended. Harvard Business Review, Managing People.