How to Communicate Support in the Workplace: When Current Events are Impacting Productivity

Friday, July 8th, 2022. 

4 days after another mass shooting – this time at a 4th of July parade in a suburb of Chicago. 

Going back to work this week was… unique. Usually I find myself dusting off the cobwebs after taking a long weekend and dreading the inbox organization and cleanup after being out on vacation. This week was different though. Monday night I was glued to the TV trying to understand how such a massacre could happen at an innocent parade. On America’s Independence day no less. I was scrolling social media trying to find comfort in other people’s pain. I was holding my daughter extra tight that night. And work was an afterthought. 

And then Tuesday rolled around. And I needed to show up. For work. For my business. For my paycheck. 

How? And how could I expect others to do the same? How do I ask someone for a stupid email when their neighbors could have been (or were) gunned down at a freaking 4th of July parade??? 

It feels weird living in this trauma vs. business as usual duality. Because it can't be business as usual. Not after experiencing mass shootings in your own backyard. Not after being affected by layoffs. Not after constitutional rights are overturned. And certainly not after 2 years of death, illness, and fear during a pandemic. 

And yet - we have a mortgage to pay for. We have kids (and dogs) to send to daycare. We have life to live. And whether we like it or not - we need to work to pay for the life we live. So we continue to show up. 

How can we continue to be productive at work – and communicate support to others – when life is hard? 

I don't have all the answers. But as someone whose mission it is to educate others on the importance (and the impact) of effective communication - I know that communication can be used as a tool to offer support, empower people to do their best work, and to slowly but surely create change. 

So here's where you can start - use the prompts below to become a more effective communicator in your own workplace despite the chaos of the world around us. 

To check in with your colleagues - “Hey xx, I'm checking in on you because I recognize you've been dealing with a lot of challenges – both inside and outside the workplace. I appreciate all the work you do on a daily basis. How else can I support you? Can I take any work off your plate?”

To provide support to your employees - “Hey xx, despite everything going on in our world, you've been doing incredible work and are such an asset to this team. Is there anything I can do for you to lighten your load? How can I support you during this crazy time?”

To communicate to your clients - “Hey xx, I recognize it feels a little weird emailing about business initiatives when there are other crazy current events happening around us. That said, I'm checking in to see how things are going and if there is anything I can do to help.”

With the coworkers or clients you don't really like 🙃 “Hey xx, I'm not really great at this kind of stuff. But the world has been a little chaotic lately. If there is anything I can do to help while here at work, please let me know”

When life is hard but work still needs to be done - “Hey xx, I recognize it has been hard lately. Work has been hard. Current events have made it harder. I wish we didn't have this case load and these deadlines to adhere to. Can we develop a plan of action to knock this work out successfully together?"

We can't cure all of the world's problems but we can show up to work a little kinder and we can rely on Civil Communication as the vehicle to create change in our immediate circles. 

If you ever need any help communicating in your own workplace, reach out. I am here to lend my time, a helping hand, and some tactical communication advice 😊