Best Blogs of April

Right now, you need reading material more than ever, and our best blogs for April post includes a lot of good stuff, including stories on the ‘pandemic workday’, large teams working remotely, going outside your personal comfort zone.

The Pandemic Workday is Usually Longer and Harder 

Before the coronavirus pandemic, many people probably fantasized about working from home – saving time on a commute, not having to get dressed, and having a flexible schedule.

However, many are finding that the fantasy does not match the reality, and those with small children are finding is particularly challenging. Data from NordVPN has shown the US workday averages three hours longer and many people are doing work between midnight and 3 a.m. – which was almost unheard of before the shutdown. Some people are now saying they actually miss a commute because it functioned as therapeutic downtime.

Read the whole story here. 

Managing a Large Remote Team 

While the current situation is very trying, company leaders should view this as a chance to gain skills or prove their abilities.

One of the greatest pitfalls in a crisis, which typically includes a great deal of change or uncertainty, is for people in leadership to act like they have all the answers. However, an autocratic approach can result in inflexibility, one-size-fits-all solutions, or quick fixes that could fail or don’t adequately evolve as the situation changes.

It’s essential for leaders to put in the work to recognize the needs of individual staff members. Leaders ought to concentrate on who needs technical guidance or emotional support; who thrives when given autonomy; how each individual can succeed; how much flexibility to afford; and the company’s productivity demands.

Leaders should also cultivation conversation, support interpersonal engagement, try to sustain company culture, prioritize transparency, highlight top remote performances and relentlessly provide context to employees.

Read the whole story here. 

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone 

As you move along in our careers and in our personal lives, we’re continuously asked to adapt and evolve. Without the ability to grow, we can miss out on personal and professional opportunities. Simply put, you need to step outside of your comfort zone from time to time.

Growth starts by being honest with yourself. Take stock of the reasons you give yourself for avoiding uncomfortable situations and consider if they are truly warranted.

Next, take small steps in the direction of shifting your behavior. Identify low-stakes possibilities for change and take advantage of them. For instance, if you have a hard time networking with strangers, practice having networking type conversations with family members.

Finally, you have to actually step outside your comfort zone. Find ways to force yourself into these situations and might find that your fear was actually unjustified.

Read the whole story here.