3 Ways To See Others Even Through The Masks

How easy the temptation to hide behind our masks in today’s COVID world. But as leaders, masks cannot be an excuse for finding ways to engage their teams that foster the day to day relationships needed for success.  They can no longer solely rely on facial expressions and verbal communications in order to create connection with their employees. 

 

While many of us are conducting work via zoom-type meetings which allow us to “show more skin”, we still need to be intentional about how we use three key tools in our communications to ensure our messages are received the way we intend.    

 

Tool #1: The “Eyes” Have It

I’m amused by how much of a fashion statement our masks have become.  Facebook peddlers are certainly tallying up the bucks by offering all kinds of patterns and colors.  And I’ll readily admit….I’m a “matchey-matchey” person and so I prefer to have my mask match my outfits.

But when I look at someone’s mask, I make it a point to look at the person’s eyes.  Are they smiling at me?  Eyes are the windows to the soul – you can see when people are happy or sad, disappointed or angry – just by looking at their eyes.     I’m working hard these days to let my “invisible smile” been seen through my eyes and take care to notice what people’s eyes are saying to me. 

 

Tool #2:  Be “All Ears”

One of the many positives that COVID has brought about is that it has forced all of us to become better listeners and observers of the non-verbal cues we emit.     We know that leaders attract commitment and engagement from direct reports when they feel seen and heard.  Now even more, we need to listen more intently.  Listen for the unspoken words. Listen for the tone.  Listen with your eyes.  

 

Tool #3: Use Your “Inside” Voice 

That is, share from your heart.  If COVID has brought forth anything, it has caused us to re-evaluate what’s important to us.  What are your values and beliefs? What do you cherish as important?  A fair number of the leaders I’m speaking with and a lot of the recent research shows that leaders are most concerned with maintaining the culture of their teams in spite of being physically separated.  Nothing mitigates that more than being real and vulnerable with your “humanness”.  That doesn’t mean weakness.  In fact, just the opposite.  That means being real while being strong.

 

Tricia Steege, CEO of Transformation Strategies, helps leaders to “release real change” that transforms their businesses by addressing the people side of change. Learn more about our services at www.transformstrat.com