4C's of Human in Teams:
Care
Communication
Capabilities
Courage
Care
"Altruism, cooperation, and caring for the vulnerable is what made our species unique. It is empathy and cooperation, not self-interest and competition, that drove our physiological, cognitive, linguistic, cultural, social, and technological evolution." Psychology Today
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Caring for others may not have been an official part of our curriculum during our professional schooling nor training, but it is a very important aspect of belonging to a team. When employees feel that they are well taken care of, they develop intrinsic motivation and loyalty towards their organisation or their team. Care is a very basic part of being human. Let us not forget that the people we work with are humans like us that have families, partners, children, problems, fears, dreams, goals, and ambitions. Also, remember that caring is not a one-way street. It is not only for the leaders to practice but for everyone to embody.
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"The extent to which you GENUINELY care for your employees is the extent to which they will care for your customers -- and each other. In the video below, Austin Brock explains why it is important for organizations (and leaders themselves) to show genuine care for their employees." - Disney Institute
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Communication
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of teamwork, clear communication is the lifeline of efficient workflow and high productivity level. Being intentional and purposeful about how you are communicating with your teammates especially during remote work is crucial. Because you are not communicating face to face at this time, the misuse of one punctuation mark can lead to a series of misunderstandings.
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"In a strange way, being apart can teach us how to communicate. Online or over the phone, we never assume that the other person should be able to read our minds without us having explained what is in them. We accept that we will have to describe our days, as well as our desires, in words and pictures. The imposition of distance is a crash course in the necessities of elucidating our thoughts." - The School of Life
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Promoting Workplace Mental Health In The Age of COVID-19:
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Great communication goes a long way in allaying anxiety. As you make decisions related to the coronavirus, share them as soon as you can with your employees. The fact that you have a thoughtful plan is something that many employees will take comfort in. Be sure to share it!
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Encourage open communication about any concerns employees may have for the well-being of themselves, their colleagues, customers, or communities. Identify leaders who can answer questions about your organization’s policies and employees’ individual circumstances. Encourage employees to contact your Employee Assistance Program if they would like additional support.
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"At Disney Institute, one of the principles we teach through our training is that leaders should be as intentional about the quality of communication to their employees as they are about the quality of communication to their customers. By being intentional in your communication practices with employees, you can create a more engaged and productive environment that leads to a more engaged and productive workforce."
Capabilities
"Capabilities" is another word that is vast in scope when talking about EX. This 2-3-4 Navigation refers to 'Capabilities' as the ability of the employee or individual to complete duties while keeping his or her holistic well-being in-check. With the current pandemic paralysing the world's movements, it is difficult to complete even the simplest of tasks. The world's situation is affecting all of us physically, emotionally, financially, and psychologically. How can organisations enable their employees better in their daily workflow and responsibilities? There are no right or wrong answers, but it is essential to know where to begin addressing these needs.
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Courage
With the whole world in an uncertain state, it's challenging to feel brave. We are not only reminded of our vulnerability but of life's fragility too. It is already a feat to find courage during a typical working day, what more now that we are all fighting a pandemic? How do you give yourself and others assurance at this time? How do you find sources of inspiration and strength to motivate yourself and your team to get through each workday? Acknowledging your own and others' vulnerabilities is a huge step towards offering support. Be kind to each other and extend your understanding of others' shortcomings at this time. We need to "add courage and vulnerability to our emotional vocabulary and reality." - Brene Brown