During the COVID-19 crisis of early 2020, many teams are working remotely from home. In this season, meetings are over video, communication is sometimes indirect and leadership has unique challenges. In addition to the physical differences and requirements of working from home, team members may also feel emotionally disoriented. For some team members, they may be stressed because they have even more work than normal—and for other team members, they may feel guilt over not having enough to contribute. In this cross-over episode from the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, Craig shares his top tips for Leading from Home.
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SUMMARY:
During the COVID-19 crisis of early 2020, many teams are working remotely from home. In this season, meetings are over video, communication is sometimes indirect and leadership has unique challenges. In addition to the physical differences and requirements of working from home, team members may also feel emotionally disoriented. For some team members, they may be stressed because they have even more work than normal—and for other team members, they may feel guilt over not having enough to contribute. In this cross-over episode from the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, Craig shares his top tips for Leading from Home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Tips for working and leading from home:
1. Go to bed on time. The temptation is to stay up late, watch TV or hang out with the kids—because you’re all at home. Don’t do it. To be effective, continue to lead with normal routines. In the morning, set your alarm and get up on time, or even get up early.
2. Get dressed. Even if you don’t see anyone, or you turn the camera off on your video calls, getting dressed sends your brain a cue that it’s time to go to work. Get dressed and be in the mindset to be productive.
3. Set three goals each day. Name the top three priorities for today and focus on them. Do them first. There will always be other tasks, emails, calls, etc. that crop up, but you’ll continue to be effective if you complete the three most important things each day.
If you’re among the group that has little to nothing to do—perhaps your work is dependent on you being in the office or yourr skills aren’t needed right now. Continue to stretch your mind. Read a book, listen to a new podcast or try something new.
4. Exercise. What we’re fighting against during this time is the monotony of being cooped up in the house all day and the tendency to sit and veg out. If it’s nice, go outside. Or, do a workout from a video. Here’s one I love: go2.lc/homeworkout
5. Designate a workspace. Trying to work in the same spot on the couch where you relax sends mixed signals to the brain. Designate a spot at the kitchen counter, at the desk in your bedroom, on the back porch or in a home office to work.
6. Take breaks. Without any of the normal office cues—like a group lunch, a certain meeting, or a coworker stopping by to chat—it can be hard to remember to take breaks. Depending on your personality, you may need to set an alarm; get up every hour for a five minute walk around the house. Step outside for some fresh air. If workload allows, take a day off—let your team know what day that will be and completely unplug.
7. Tips for working with kids. Much like how you’re going to lead yourself to be regimented, disciplined and effective, you can help your kids do the same while they’re out of school. If their school has provided work for home, set a start time for school work. School begins at, say, 8:30am. Set requirements that your kids be dressed and at the kitchen table by then. Continue to reinforce discipline and dedication to schoolwork—set the expectation that the kids cannot play, go outside, go online, etc. until the schoolwork is done. Make them stay focused. If you have doubts about your ability to homeschool during this period, don’t worry. You’re not going to ruin your kids with six or eight or ten weeks out of school. In fact, if you can devote certain time slots to them, help them learn to focus and push through their schoolwork, they may come out ahead of where they might normally be. But, give yourself grace. It’s hard work to try to do your own job while teaching your kids or minding toddlers. Do your best.
8. Win the battle in your mind. The hardest part of any crisis is the battle that roars in your mind. Even though it may be hard, and you’ll face tough decisions along the way, tell yourself over and over that this will pass. You can’t control everything, but take control of your attitude. Don’t let your mind wander. Don’t dabble in “what-ifs.” Don’t dwell on excuses about why you can’t lead in your current situation.
Remember, you can make excuses or you can make progress, but you can’t make both. When you lead, you can expect to face a significant crisis perhaps once every ten years.
Learning now to master leading through a crisis will serve you for the rest of your life.
ACTION STEPS:
Make a plan to EXERCISE each day for the next week.
LIST OUT your top three goals that will make the biggest impact.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Craig’s Recommended Video Workout
Carey Nieuwhof’s "How to Lead Through Crisis"
John Maxwell Facebook Live: “Leading in Crisis”
The Global Leadership Network’s Free Leading Through Crisis Resources
RELATED LINKS:
The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
GLN’s Leadership in a Season of Crisis
Click Here to Download Episode 069 Show Notes >>
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