Some quick reminders to help comms leaders prevent burnout in crazy times.
It’s no secret that recent months have been chaotic for communicators. We’ve been connecting leaders with employees in real time, sharing our company’s pandemic plans and diving headfirst into important conversations about diversity and inclusion.
None of this has been easy, and long hours, intense pressure and anxiety about furloughs or layoffs continues to simmer under the surface. Paired with unrelenting health and societal concerns and the disruption of working from home, it’s no surprise I’m hearing clients and comms colleagues alike say they’re fast approaching burnout.
At the same time, we’re all learning important lessons we can carry into the future. (Check out this great podcast from And Then Communications and their tip on finding a “peace pocket.”) If your comms team is running on fumes, here are a few reminders:
- Now is the time to ruthlessly prioritize. Most successful communicators are “Yes, and…” people. We not only deliver the work, but add an extra layer of strategic thinking and attention to detail that makes good work great. These days, our “on it” response is in overdrive, and we continue to meet pre-pandemic goals while adding new priorities daily. Now’s the time to make hard tradeoffs and have honest conversations with leadership about “must dos” versus “normally we would dos.” One helpful phrase is, “We can certainly deliver x, but if you’re expecting y, we’ll need z.” When leaders are focused on the end game, this statement can help them quickly assess tradeoffs and make fast decisions. It also positions your team as disciplined, trusted advisors versus simply “Yes, and…” folks.
- Empathy is key. I recently heard the phrase, “We’re all on the same ocean, but not in the same boat.” Some of us are caretakers. Others are quarantined with laid off partners or have deep concerns about loved ones’ safety. Some have fighting kids in the background, weak WiFi access or noisy neighbors. While we say we appreciate our “new reality,” I recently heard about a high-level leader’s infuriated response after a team member’s Zoom connection dropped twice. His surprising, oversized reaction deflated his team and set a negative, awkward tone—even before the call began. It’s important to remember that annoyances like wonky internet, homeschooling interruptions and lawn mowers are part of our new normal. Everyone is doing the best they can, and we’ll continue to adapt and improve. Harsh reprimands or exceedingly high expectations for exhausted folks get us nowhere. Keeping teams engaged and inspired in tough times means driving for results while treating each other with empathy, respect and understanding. (Carla Hassan, the Global Chief Brand Officer of Citi, has a great perspective on this.)
- Gratitude can be a boost. Never underestimate the power of “thank you” in times of crisis. We’re all moving fast, and a moment of sincere appreciation can restore much-needed energy to drained team members and business partners. Whether it’s an email, a thank-you note or a sincere shout-out during a videoconference, gratitude always matters—even more so when folks are feeling overwhelmed. Recently, a senior leader/client handwrote brief, personalized thank-you notes to every member of her team, and I witnessed the positive influence on her team’s energy and demeanor for days afterwards.
There are certainly more lessons learned in recent months, and I’ll continue to share my observations on the CommsLede blog. In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your experiences and some of the lessons you’ve learned over the last few weeks, so share your insight below.
With more than two decades of communications experience spanning agencies, Fortune-100 organizations, non-profits and academia, Kristi Hinck Mills today brings her passion for communications to CommsLede Consulting, where she delivers smart, strategic communication solutions for her clients.
