Are you preparing for a return-to-workplace conversation with someone?
Do you need to check in on someone’s well-being but don’t know how to approach it?
Are your conversations truly supportive?
Extended time away from the workplace for any reason can bring feelings of anxiety, rejection, isolation, imposter syndrome, low morale, resentment and disengagement. Mixed in with Covid-19 pandemic concerns and you can start to see why returning to the workplace for many may not be straight forward. It is vital to understand the emotional journey of change and how to support people through it.
Handled the right way, Return-to-Workplace Conversations can create respected relationships, increase emotional intelligence, create new communication patterns, nourish well-being and ultimately yield greater success for everyone.
The transition back to the workplace for many will be littered with both psychological and physical barriers.
Mindset whilst away from the workplace (1295 survey respondents):
4 Top Tips for Return to Workplace Conversations
Ask open questions, those that start with a How? or a What? Follow on by asking people to discuss and elaborate more. Actively listen. Find a list of 25 incisive questions in the report.
Get clear on the reasons "Why?" before your conversation. If having people physically back in the workplace is vital to the success of the organisation, get clear on which elements of the role are honestly best conducted face to face. E.g. • bonding human-to-human • creativity, play, imagination • collaboration; certain elements of teamwork • empathy and communication • physical tasks.
The Power of a 5 min chat. Quick, regular 5 minute chats do wonders for relationship building. Be wary of digital communication. Emails and texts do not give reassurance, they often provide another opportunity for the human brain to invent a negative tone of voice and story.
Understand the importance of ‘The First Day’ back. The first day has a huge impact on their full transition back being successful or unsuccessful. Psychologically, the person returning is facing fears that day, they are taking brave first steps, it’s daunting. It’s a reality check against the picture and problems built in their mind.
Return to Workplace Barriers- Personal Self- Assessment
Send this exercise to people who don’t feel ready to return but can’t articulate why. Please contact us for a free version of this model
The Coaching Leader's Guide to Support People Returning to the Workplace During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Download our comprehensive Guide to Supporting People back into the Workplace, plus details of our Well-being Conversations Training Workshops today.
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