Hey Reader,

This week may be one of the most stressful of the year with year-end projects picking up and the election weighing on you.

If you and your team are experiencing a roller coaster of emotions, know that this is a very real and normal response. The key is to understand that you’re not broken; you’re simply having a human reaction to fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

In fact, research shows that employee engagement and productivity can decline post-election due to heightened stress, uncertainty, and polarization. As you process the results, here are some actions you can take to help your team stay supported and focused.

Affirm your team

In turbulent times, fears may get the best of us. Reaffirm your team, reminding them of your shared mission and why the work you do together matters. Show them that their efforts are appreciated and impactful. Your team needs to know that you’re there to support them and that you're working alongside them to navigate this tough election season.

Create space

During high-stress periods, providing space and time for employees to decompress can be very beneficial. Consider how you can offer more flexibility to your team.

Here are some ideas:

• Adjust schedules: Offer remote work, postpone non-urgent meetings, or provide personal time for team members who feel particularly affected by the election.
• Be flexible with deadlines: Expect potential absences or lower productivity, and adjust deadlines and tasks accordingly where possible.
• Schedule optional processing time: Consider scheduling time for team members to connect, process, and practice self-care strategies together.

Plan for post-election communication

Be ready to communicate with your team within 24-48 hours of the results. You don’t need to have all the answers, but share what you do know and commit to providing updates as you have more clarity. This is also a chance to acknowledge that team members may experience a range of emotions about the election outcome—and that’s okay.

Consider the following questions as you prepare your communication:

• How will the election results impact your team personally and professionally?
• What should be the team’s priorities over the next 90 days?
• Which current priorities may need to be adjusted, postponed, or removed altogether?
• How will you support your team over the next few months, and what resources will be provided?

Provide support

Ask your team what they need and be responsive to these needs. For example, if your organization offers mental health benefits, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), or initiatives like the Election Resilience Circle for Mission-Driven Professionals, remind your team about these resources.

No matter what comes next, remember you are smart, strong, and resilient. While some circumstances are beyond your control, you do have control over how you respond to them.

Dharma teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo, in We Were Made for These Times, describes it this way:

I couldn’t agree more. You were made for times such as this.

Keep doing the good work,

Meico

P.S. If you're feeling stressed out by the election, join us on election night. Instead of tuning into the results, we'll be turning within and tapping into our natural resilience.

This is a free virtual open space I'm hosting for people to drop in and do some guided exercises to help ease anxiety, share some practical strategies for dealing with election season at work, and create a self-care plan for taking care of ourselves and our teams regardless of the election outcome.​
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 8-9:30 PM ET

In these interactive gatherings, we’ll:
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✔ Pause and tap into our natural resilience
✔ Share practical strategies for navigating election season
✔ Craft a personalized self-care plan to stay grounded

Don’t face election stress alone—join us and leave feeling renewed and empowered to navigate the season ahead of us. Feel free to share this email and invite friends and colleagues to join you in this experience.

Register free at mindfultechie.com/circle

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