3 Simple Ways to Connect With Your Team in Challenging Times
We are only days away from a consequential and historic election. With so much happening in the world and in our lives, it’s easy to become distracted or feel depleted. Fear and stress about the state of the world can throw us off balance, and in moments like these, it’s more important than ever for leaders to support their teams with a sense of steadiness, compassion, and community.
If your team seems a bit scattered and in need of support to return to the present moment, here are three things you can do with them today.
1. Ground Yourself First
Start by connecting with yourself. This may be the hardest part, especially if your thoughts are racing and emotions are high, but those uncomfortable conditions present the perfect opportunity to practice. As Pema Chödrön describes it, we must learn to “stay with it.” Before entering a meeting today, take 30 seconds to ground yourself. I recommend Thich Nhat Hanh’s daily mindfulness practice, which anyone can do:
Close your eyes and take your seat. Silently repeat the following over the course of three breaths:
Breathing in, I notice I’m breathing in.
Breathing out, I notice I’m breathing out.
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment.
Breathing out, I know it’s a wonderful moment.
That’s it! This brief practice can help you create space between your thoughts, relax the muscles in your face, and enhance your presence as you enter the room to greet others.
2. Make Space for Others
During the early months of the COVID lockdown in 2020, my team and I were working long hours, wildfires were raging in Northern California, and no one knew what was safe to do outside their homes. At the beginning of a meeting, someone bravely suggested, “Can we all take a moment to check in with each other? How’s everyone feeling today?” Another courageous team member shared, “Honestly, my anxiety is through the roof, and I’m having a hard time focusing today.” Everyone took a deep breath and exchanged looks that seemed to say, “Thank you for saying that… me too.”
At the start of your meetings, invite everyone to share a two-word check-in. Phrases like “anxious and overwhelmed,” “jetlagged and over-caffeinated,” “energized and optimistic,” or “what’s happening?” for the skeptics can work well. The point is that everyone brings these feelings into the room; by allowing them to be named and welcomed, you create space for everyone to show up fully. This approach enables you to recalibrate the tone and focus of the meeting, ensuring it is responsive to the team's state. You don’t have to fix or address people’s feelings immediately; acknowledging what everyone is experiencing allows for a sense of community.
3. Practice Interdependence
One practice I’ve found effective is to begin meetings with a touch of optimism and then highlight the team’s interdependence. Here’s how it works: Everyone takes turns sharing one positive thing from the week—perhaps they noticed a colleague on another team doing something great, or maybe there’s been a small but noticeable improvement in their department that deserves recognition. This invites positivity and optimism to build upon.
Next, encourage team members to share a couple of challenges they are facing. Before moving on to the next person, invite the rest of the meeting attendees to suggest ways they can be helpful or supportive in addressing those challenges. This clear demonstration of interdependence fosters greater connection, empathy, and a renewed focus on your shared purpose and how to serve one another. Being in community and supporting others can create calm during turbulent times.
In addition to these tips, it’s essential to ensure that everyone is clear about what is expected of them—reminders about deadlines, quality expectations, and specific deliverables, for example. In the mental fog of a collectively stressful period, these details can easily slip through the cracks. Having priorities documented clearly, restated, and validated will help everyone stay on track and focused on the tasks at hand.
By fostering connection and support within your team in the more challenging times, you not only can navigate them more easily together, but may also emerge stronger, more connected, and more resilient when it passes.
