Keep the home fires burning...

This week’s theme is about loyalty – what it takes to create and keep it, and what it means to give it. And even though it’s a two-way proposition, it starts with you and me and the employees everywhere who want to give their loyalty to you (their supervisor) and your company.  That’s true in normal times and even more so in these Covid-19 times. Companies spend a lot of time, in those normal times, creating a culture that employees want to be a part of and loyal to, getting people working together, feeling good about themselves and their colleagues, aligning with the company’s values, and thinking about the future together. But with so many people furloughed, laid off, or working from home, it’s difficult to create or maintain that kind of culture and loyalty: it’s like the whole thing is turned upside down. Employees want to keep their own loyalty feelings alive – your job as a supervisor is to let them, help them, support them, talk to them, listen to them, and celebrate them.  When the old policies and tactics aren’t available or working – adapt; now is the time to rethink all the things you used to do to build a culture and get employees to buy 0nto it.  Change your plan and the measures used to see if it’s working. And be the kind of supervisor that employees will want to be loyal to. Get a fire in your belly to help your employees keep their own fires alive today.

Catherine Tift Merritt (born 1975); American singer-songwriter and musician