AHP Connect Articles

CEO Corner: Encourage Your Virtual Team's Work-Life Balance

A lot is being written about how to manage virtual teams, so I will try to not to repeat all the great advice out there (including on our COVID-19 Resource Page). One thing I am not seeing a lot, but which we are working to implement for the AHP staff, is the need to separate work from home. Here are two ways you, as a leader, can help your team members keep a balance between these two facets of their life.

1. Paid time off is still paid time off, even in this very unusual time. Reinforce to your team members that if they need a day off for a staycation to clean their closets, read a book or play with their kids, they should take it just the way they would have under normal circumstances.
2. Lead by example. Let everyone know that it is ok to go out for a run in the middle of the day, take an hour for lunch, or sign off at a normal hour. Then do it yourself, and make sure everyone knows you are doing it. We are all under an enormous amount of stress right now, and exercise and other forms of self-care are critical to good health. If your team sees you doing it, they will be more inclined to do it themselves.

As much as all of this feels like a break-neck sprint, it is a marathon. We all need to remain healthy—physically and mentally—in order to go the distance together.

Share other ideas for managing virtual teams with us at communications@ahp.org.