The Importance of Investing in People
Asking everyone to be on a video call is a small but important way to ensure no one is distracted by an overloaded inbox while they should be listening. In addition, rather than you standing at the front of the room or being the sole talking head on the screen, give everyone a chance to talk about their wins and challenges and to ask questions of the team.
We’ve even taken a cue from the creative ways we’ve connected with friends personally and have enjoyed some team-building “happy hours.” Consider surprising your team with a virtual chocolate, wine or beer tasting. There are many local companies that have gotten creative by offering these events, complete with shipping each team member a ready-to-open-and-enjoy care package for the occasion. No matter how you do it, fun is an important part of building a team.
It’s Not Just a Job
Before the pandemic (or, for some of us, even still) we would spend more time with our coworkers than our families. Now, it’s often trying to balance the two. All leaders have had to empathize with the difficult scenarios their team members are facing and work that much harder to stay connected in a world that now intermingles our personal and professional lives like never before.
Zoom calls with kids or animals or life in general interrupting has become the norm, even as we start to get back to whatever normal will be. I believe it is important to find a way to stay connected in a more personal way. Beyond focusing on professional success, always take a moment to ask how someone is doing. This lesson, which was emphasized this past year, is a good reminder to make sure we always nurture the whole person. In the end, it will create a bond that will reap benefits both personally and for the organization’s success.
As a Senior Director at Cox Business, John Muscarella is responsible for the overall readiness strategy for the indirect business sales channels. His team has the primary responsibility to develop, implement and sell solutions utilizing the Cox Communications network throughout the country. John has more than 25 years of experience in business management, which includes sales and leadership positions with companies such as Polycom, Sprint and EDS.
This guest blog is part of a Channel Futures sponsorship.
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