Keeping the morale up

"It feels good to laugh."

That’s how a recent call with our InvestmentNews advisory board wound up, and it seemed particularly apt to the pervasive mood in this third week of “the new normal.”

Week 1 brought the adrenaline of the new reality to the fore, and people were energized to tackle the challenge of getting work done under new circumstances. Week 2 saw the resumption of “normal” activities and the concomitant buzz of newness. Now, in Week 3, a sense of drudgery has set in. 

Allow me to share insights I’ve gleaned over the past couple of weeks that have helped maintain morale. 

First, overcommunicate. The consistent refrain has been that readers, users and clients will remember the people who reached out to them, and will quickly forget or dismiss those who put their head in the sand. 

Second, engage face to face. Turn on the camera for that Zoom; it’s so helpful to see people’s faces. 

Most important, innovate and share. None of us have been through this before, so don’t be shy about sharing your ideas. I’ve enjoyed reading, listening and watching new ideas, which, even if not directly applicable, can spark indirect ideas. 

Lastly, share a silly meme or story about what’s happened in your home. It will trigger that laugh — and those laughs will keep the morale up.