How to Lead the ‘Locked’ In

Zoom Fatigue

Most countries around the world are well into the third wave of a COVID ‘inspired’ lock-down. My team is way past Zoom Fatigue and are now deep into a state of languish. Truthfully, I bet you feel the same way. But… you are a leader and unfortunately, we don’t get a day-off from motivating our team and charting a course for them to follow.

How then can you get your mojo back and get your head into the game for the good of your team, customers and the business?

Here is my quick list of actions to consider:

1. Work-Life Rhythm. Working from a remote office can screw up one’s rhythm – especially when we are used to going through a routine of getting up at the same time every day, making coffee, getting in the car, fighting traffic, stopping at the gym, grabbing another coffee and arriving at the office. That rhythm (even after 14-months of COVID inspired working from home) is difficult to replace unless you are disciplined to following a new rhythm and sticking to it as if you were following the routine you had before.
2. Put Your Own Mask on First. In case you find that your head is not in the game, have a look in the mirror. Maybe tell yourself it is time to get your head out of your @$% and get back to what high performing leaders worldwide do…
   1. Sleep – a consistent 7 to 8 hours per night
   2. Hydration – 3 litres per day minimum
   3. Nutrition – good, healthy (soulful) food & limit the junk (remember you would never let a $1M racehorse eat junk food)
   4. Move – Your brain will reward you for giving it exercise with serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin which are the magical and totally natural ‘feel-good’ drugs
3. Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Get yourself engaged in planning and executing acts of kindness to those in need during these times. ‘Feel-Good’ missions will bring energy back to your game.  Get your team involved as well.  This will bring them closer together too.
4. Leader Drive-By’s. Get in your car and drive to your team members’ home during work hours and have a very quick “how are you doing” meeting with them outside of the home, in a park close by or while going for a short walk.  And, by ‘how are you doing’, I mean personally, how are you doing?  Not anything to do with work or projects. Those conversations will come up; however, when people feel disconnected from the rest of the team, they just need to know that someone cares about them.  This gives you as the leader the perfect opportunity to coach or mentor.
5. Schedule Non-Meetings. A non-meeting is a short get together (if you are working in the office) or video call with no agenda or work-related topic. A basic need for humans is connection and belonging and ‘small talk’ and non-meetings give people the chance to catch up with each other. Connection leads to a sense of belonging. Belonging drives trust. Trust drives accountability and commitment.
6. Mental Time-Travel. Yes, just like when you were a kid and you imagined you were flying or in a different world, adults (especially leaders) need to practice day-dreaming of a time when you are sitting on a beach with your partner, sipping on a drink with a tiny umbrella in it and watching the sunset. Your brain cannot tell the difference between a real or perceived event so… give your brain something really fun to deal with versus the stress that we feed it on a regular basis.

 We will get through this. You will get through this. And, when we come out the other side, we will all be stronger for it.

Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, #1 Best Selling Author, International Keynote Speaker, and TEC Top Speaker of the Year for 2018. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, follow Robert on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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