Co-authors Anh Vo, M.A. and Brian Cole, Ph.D.

Through all the changes that the pandemic has imposed on the corporate world, critical aspects of the business can fall by the wayside. Performance evaluations are one such aspect, and in these uncertain times, keeping those evaluations fair and equitable is of utmost importance.

To be an effective leader of others, it's important to first take care of yourself. Teams will always look to the leaders and model behaviors they see in action. Part of leadership is setting the tone during times of high stress and otherwise. Showing that you place importance on your own personal care, allows others the grace to do the same.

When leaders practice self-care it reduces stress, improves listening skills and allows you to perform at your peak. All important characteristics for both a leader and their teams.

In this video ALULA's Anh Vo, M.A., ACC, provides suggestions leaders can utilize to help them focus on their own self-care during times of Uncertainty Fatigue.

With all of the changes that occurred in the past year, many leaders have missed some of the indicators that clearly identify Uncertainty Fatigue. While these indicators may seem small when looked at individually, when taken as a whole they can be significant. Specific emotions, feelings and observed behaviors evident in your team, when not addressed, can greatly impact productivity, creativity and critical thought.

Everyone is vulnerable to Uncertainty Fatigue. Our brains are hardwired to feel safe in a predictable environment. And this year has been anything but predictable.

In this video, ALULA's Anh Vo, M.A., ACC, identifies what leaders should look for in their teams to assist in identifying Uncertainty Fatigue. 

Over the last 14 months, organizations have endured a global pandemic, an economic crisis and social unrest. Though much progress has been made, there still remains many unanswered questions. Living and working in a constant state of high-alert and uncertainty can be exhausting. Not only does it affect your personal interactions, it also has a significant impact on employees and employee engagement.

Having an understanding of what causes uncertainty fatigue in staff and co-workers can be just as important as knowing how to handle it.

In the first of several videos from ALULA specifically addressing Uncertainty Fatigue and Driving Engagement, Anh Vo, M.A., ACC, identifies the root causes of uncertainty fatigue faced by many individuals in organizations today.

Personal Reflection: Staying engaged while being new and virtual. 

Anh Vo joined ALULA at the beginning of 2020 and was progressing through her onboarding when the whole world changed. Onboarding to a new company is challenging in itself. But onboarding during a pandemic is especially challenging.  These are Anh's thoughts on making virtual onboarding work.

January ended on an immense high note: I was joining a new company and a new team! I was really looking forward to getting to know everyone and learn about the organization, as well as my place in it. Things were progressing as planned. I got to attend the annual company meeting (in beautiful San Diego!) and meet everyone from all over the country. I traveled to the company headquarters for an onboarding session and met with colleagues. The usual onboarding activities, as expected.

As we practice social distancing, we are also practicing new ways of working together. But even as we are keeping our distance, we still need the social part! I don’t know about you, but I miss the chats during coffee breaks, going to lunch with my colleagues, or just stopping by their desk for a quick check-in. All those small interactions that we took for granted are now sorely missed.

We know that high-performing teams have two strengths: productivity (alignment, accountability, efficient decision-making), and positivity  (trust, camaraderie, clear communication). Unfortunately, when we are in a virtual environment, all we can see or measure is productivity—what we accomplish by day’s end. It is easy to overlook the positivity  part—the human connection—which is what really drives employee engagement. Our daily human connections are as vital to productivity as doing the task itself.