A CULTURE OF CARING: 8 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR CREATING A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT IN TIME OF WAR

Each person experiences war in a different way and reactions can be unforeseen, so leaders of their teams face a challenge: how to mentor employees in times of war? Motivation but not pressure? How to find a balance between empathy and the interests of the company? 

We have prepared small but very valuable tips on how to maintain the mental health of the team in times of war and how to interact with each other in such conditions.

Ensuring an appropriate level of psychological comfort for employees is not an easy task, because in addition to the psychological consequences of war, such problems as professional burnout, conflicts, disputes, issues related to poor communication, etc. do not disappear. 

Since this topic is too broad, let's focus on a few factors that can significantly reduce tension and increase the level of comfort in the company.

Remote work. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies have switched to remote working hours. However, in the current environment, some employees may find it more convenient to work from the office. A compromise can be a “hybrid” work schedule, when each employee chooses where they will work the next week, based on their personal needs.

Volunteering. How about joining forces? Choose several areas of volunteering that you can do together. Schedule mini-meetings to discuss the results and plans. In this way, you will kill two birds with one stone by increasing trust, improving communication within the company, and rallying the team around an extremely important cause.

Professional psychological support. Each person is unique, has their own unique life experience, and reacts differently to stress. Therefore, you should not neglect even the slightest opportunity to organize several sessions with a psychologist for company employees.

Encouraging employees has always been important for business owners, but now it is a necessity, as many people have lost their enthusiasm and feel confused after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine. The task of company leaders today is to keep employee productivity at a certain level by motivating them in various ways. Let's analyze the most effective ones in this article.

Financial incentives. The most common type of motivation is a salary increase or bonus. It's worth noting that a salary increase can not only motivate employees but also give them a sense of importance in the company. 

Ideological motivation. It's also important to support the team morally, conveying to people that the goals and objectives they are working on continue to be important and necessary. You can also ask the team and discuss who can be useful at a particular stage of the project. 

Gifts for good results. The company can pay for a vacation, training courses, equipment, or discounts on company goods or services to an employee who has implemented a project in advance. However, to motivate the team properly, the manager must know what exactly his team is interested in and understand the core values of the employees.

Of course, at work, communication should mostly take place within the framework of professional relationships, but you shouldn't forget that behind your colleague is an ordinary person with his or her own life and experiences.

So, for example, if you work in an office, it's a good idea to create a relaxation area. Set aside one room where you can place table tennis or football, a coffee machine, a sofa, and a table at your discretion. You can discuss these details with your employees beforehand, what they would like to do during the break, and what kind of atmosphere they would feel comfortable communicating in.

Stay in touch with your colleagues not only on work-related issues. Arrange online meetings to chat about free topics and joke around. Talk about what's bothering your colleagues (they may not want to share their negative emotions in formal online meetings with managers). Talk about useful things, for example, recommend motivating books or interesting speeches.

Also, don't forget about traditions and holidays. Despite the martial law, continue celebrating birthdays or other important dates: it is important for employees to feel that they are remembered. Celebrate the company's small victories, for example, when a new project is awarded. Such traditions will help to distract from routine work and can also serve as future topics for discussion among employees.

Team building is an important investment in the future of any company. Today, there are many classifications of team building and organizations involved in it.

Sports team building. Climbing and descending mountains, diving into the depths of the sea, and team sports are among the most popular types of team building. If a team spends most of its time indoors, any activity that involves a change of scenery will benefit them.

Intellectual and psychological team building. It can be intellectual games, quests, photo hunting in urban environments, and joint handicrafts. This type of team building does not require physical effort, allows you to stay in a comfortable urban environment, and at the same time effectively reveals yourself to team members.

Creativity. Joint creative activities help to reveal your talents and prove yourself in non-standard conditions. Theater and musical performances, literary evenings, dance competitions, and historical modeling help to look at team members not in the usual office environment, but with a fresh perspective.

In conclusion, we emphasize that the working atmosphere and morale of your team directly affect the performance of tasks and the achievement of goals. So how do you create all the conditions for this in the realities of war? It's simple. Listen to your employees, take care of their safety, and maintain an atmosphere of trust and mutual assistance in the team.

If you have any questions or have an idea about hiring a team of professional developers in Ukraine, we would be glad to fuel your business idea with our services: contact.us@gointeractive.co