It’s Not Just for Our Personal Lives
When we talk about spring cleaning, we often are referring to donating clothes or items from around the house, refreshing our spaces in honor of good weather and the sense of newness that the spring season brings.
As blooms start to emerge and cold weather turns warmer, we are met with an overwhelming sense of resilience. We are reminded by nature that although humans are small and individual, we are all part of the same network, living life on the same planet. We cannot avoid the change that a new season brings; we can simply find ways to thrive together amidst whatever comes next.
If 2020 taught us anything, it was how to be resilient and deal with change. Resilience was one of the most commonly used words during the global pandemic, along with uncertainty, pivot, change, unprecedented, and new normal. The idea of being resilient or being nimble and somehow adapting to the uncertainty of every single day was an epic part of how people weathered the pandemic experience.
Resilience is not easy. It takes its toll on your employees. Even as many have returned to pre-pandemic lifestyles, employees report feeling more burned out than ever.
Seasonal Opportunities
Why not apply the concept of spring cleaning to your organization?
The feelings that come with spring present a great opportunity for managers to review and refresh practices, standards, and habits. Evaluate your organizational practices to see what needs renewal and engage your employees in finding ways to update these practices.
To really seize this opportunity, communication is going to be vital. Remember that communication goes two ways; it requires active listening for anything to be accomplished. Active listening is a skill that can be developed and worked on. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Pro Tip: Active Listening Takes Practice
Test it out the next time you find yourself in a conversation. Make eye contact, put your phone away, and pay attention to your body language and facial expressions. While listening, refrain from interrupting to offer a solution or interject an opinion unless it is requested. Be aware, you may not get to say very much, but you’ll be positively memorable for being such a good listener.
Being an active listener:
1. Elevates empathy & compassion.
2. Creates a greater connection to your employees.
3. Eliminates obstacles by learning what would support your team.
All Eyes on Innovation
As managers, your source of information for innovation comes from your employees. They have a first-hand perspective on tasks and understand the factors that could prevent implementation. If one of these factors could be eliminated, it is your job as a manager to ask employees for their perspective, eliminate the obstacle whenever possible, and develop a way to pursue company goals collectively after the improvement has been made.
Consider engaging your teams in a spring-cleaning brainstorming session. Ask them what changes they think could lead to positive developments and listen intently. By engaging them in this activity, you’ll support their sense of autonomy and empowerment, while developing a system for continuous improvement within your organization.
How does your organization keep practices and habits fresh? Join the conversation with us now on LinkedIn.
