How can you help your Business Development Team to be their best selves, during the Coronavirus pandemic?

Supporting employees with general anxiety around Coronavirus is the main challenge facing employers as a result of the outbreak, a survey of HR professionals found (CIPD). This poses a huge threat to productivity.

Many of us are worrying about the current situation around Coronavirus and how it is affecting our lives. We have unprecedented health, social, financial and economic anxieties. On top of all that, we are all involved in the biggest ‘working from home’ experiment to date.

Of course, many businesses are having to furlough their staff but others are seeing a massive increase in demand. Everyone is in a unique situation and because of this, there is huge value in prioritising employee well-being.

Physical distancing not ‘Social distancing’

During the pandemic, up to 50% of the workforce will be working from home. That’s 14/15 million workers! Strengthening our human connections is vital in order to create a happy, healthy and productive team. We really need to look after ourselves and our colleagues, both for health and well-being and for productivity in order to sustain business.

Invest the time now, because the future is a flexible way of working

For many, working remotely will be a huge challenge. Personally and professionally, during this epidemic, we have found all sorts of creative ways to stay connected with each other and businesses have had to learn tough lessons fast. But, we’re learning that we can make this way of working work and are finding many positives when we do it the right way. It is therefore vital that we plan ahead for the transition back to normal, because the new normal will not be as we have known it.

But, how do I keep my Business Development team Happy, Healthy and Engaged during these times?

Here are 5 Top Tips from Corpdata ...

1. Check in on colleagues regularly

   Daily check in’s - both individually and as a team. Keeping the human connection is vital. Ask people how they are feeling and listen to what they have to say. Offer support where needed. Physical distancing does not need to be social distancing.



2. Take advantage of technology

   Use Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype or other communication platforms for virtual social sessions. Introduce virtual coffee breaks or remote shared activities. Virtual Friday cocktails are a great way of motivating staff and helping them to feel connected!



3. Encourage your team to stay active and to look after their physical health

   Physical health is directly related to mental health and well-being. Encourage your team to use their usual commute time to get out for their daily exercise. Equally important, encourage them to take rest breaks away from their work screen.



4. Promote the right to disconnect

   It is vital to stay connected, however it is just as vital to allow the ‘right to dis-connect’. An ‘always on’ culture is counter-productive. Encourage a good work/life balance to avoid employee burn out.

   Set clear expectations of working hours and highlight that employees are not expected to stay logged in, or check their emails when the working day is finished.



5. Treat everyone as individuals

   Everyone is in a different situation. Respect this. Step up and treat people as individuals. Be human and be kind!