Over the last few weeks, I have been worrying my ass off about how folks like you are managing.  I know how I’ve been feeling and I’m seeing the signs of burnout due to extreme stress everywhere. 

There’s financial stress, homeschooling stress, financial stress, health/safety stress and anxiety in general about how we will get back into the world. 

You are experiencing JOY?  & PAIN? | SUNSHINE ☀️AND RAIN ? often at the same time. So are your people. 

The video below includes an overview of what I’ve been up to these last few weeks. It’s pretty freaking awesome and I want you to be the first to know.

For more info and early access to our FREE 7 day trial, schedule a quick call. I can share the deets and answer any questions .

Humans are amazing creatures. During this time of social distancing and sheltering in place, we’ve found creative ways to stay connected using virtual tools. 

We’ve hosted happy hours, wine tastings, birthday parties, baby showers, played Bingo, homeschooled our kids, streamed concerts, and in a couple of weeks, will be watching the next generation graduate from institutes of advanced learning. 

DAMN. THAT IS A LOT OF SCREEN TIME!!!

How do you reduce screen time while also keeping your teams connected? 

THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Not only will this help the Postal Service stay in business, but cards and letters from YOU also bring JOY to someone’s day. 

To connect your team by mail, try the following:

1. Send the first batch of cards to EVERYONE on your team as a model. Make the cards personal. 
2. Collect addresses of those who want to participate. Although addresses may be available through HR, please don’t share with other employees without their permission.
3. Provide a list of letter writing prompts. This link contains 75 prompts.
4. Encourage your peeps to become Pen Pals. Don’t just RECEIVE the card, write back. 

In the wise words of Lord Byron, “Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company.”
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If you need ways to keep your teams connected during COVID-19 and beyond, schedule a short discovery call. We can talk about your worries, concerns, and how to reconnect your peeps when you return to your workplace. 

“If you want people to write nice things about you or your organization, you have to actually give them something nice to say. Treat your people as if every single one of them is going to write a book about their experience, and all of your investors have a Barnes & Noble membership.”
- Madison Butler

This is true whether we are managing a global pandemic or when handling smaller scale issues. Investing in our people and teams remains important no matter the circumstances.

This week, I’m sharing some great tips from Emily Morgan and The Texas Conference for Women on how to stay connected now and later. 

1. Create brief opportunities for everyone to see each other. Her entire team comes together over Zoom for 15 minutes once a week, with various team members taking a turn hosting. They cover core values, one positive development, organizational updates, shared learnings, and a story of values in action.
2. Offer small, more in-depth chances to connect. Morgan’s team is divided into packs of five to seven who meet on Zoom one hour a week where they have an opportunity to share—including, as she puts it, to “complain to and encourage”—one another. This, she says, helps create the culture they would have if working in the office together.
3. Think creatively about how you can support your team now. For example, she is organizing a virtual camp where volunteers teach topics that will aim to keep children engaged while their parents focus on work.
4. Establish clear boundaries and expectations. Being clear about metrics the team should be focused on over the next 30, 60 and 90 days. This helps everyone stay focused on priorities and know what they are accountable for.
5. Try to model calmness. Morgan says she meditates, limits her news intake, and reflects on whether how she is leading and acting is aligned with how she wants to see others act. “I don’t,” she adds, “want to be leading from a place of reaction.” Emily Morgan is the founder and CEO of Delegate Solutions, which offers premium-level virtual assistant services for entrepreneurs.

WHY AM I SHARING THIS WITH YOU NOW?

• The need for personal connection is overwhelming right now and will continue to be as we eventually return to our brick and mortar locations. 
• Investing in your employees TODAY will ensure they return TOMORROW. It also shows your customers and clients that you value people over profit. 
• There’s no time like the present to strategically plan for team building and professional development. 
• Diverse thoughts and opinions, equal access to opportunities and true belonging through inclusiveness have an unmatched ROI....in fact, 35% more profitability than those who don’t embrace D&I. 
• I CAN HELP YOU! Schedule a chat to learn more about my new team building series or to discuss a custom workshop!

​My vision is to disrupt our current model by creating a society of workplace culture based on joy, empowerment and balance. I am so committed to this dream, that I became a licensed facilitator of the Joy|Money Matrix™ in July and combined it with my existing programs to create The JOYFull BadAss at Work Experience™.  I am also an #IamRemarkable facilitator for Google, a soon to be Certified Diversity Professional™ AND an International speaker.