Together we stay stronger These times of uncertainty can be lonely and isolating so it is important to keep in touch and stay connected with colleagues, friends and family. Below are some hints and tips together with links (underlined text) to resources that will help.
Stay connected at work We're used to regularly engaging with colleagues when we're in the office or on site, so as the way we work changes and more of us are working from home, we all need to ensure that we keep in touch with colleagues to prevent us feeling isolated. Communicating with your team and colleagues as frequently as possible will help, so why not pick up the phone and have a conversation rather than emailing. Having a conversation can be much more stimulating and productive than a chain of emails. Why not try: Teams calls instead of emails/conference calls Short check-ins each day/week with your manager/colleagues Having a Teams call over a coffee break just to chat and catch up with colleagues
Stay connected with family and friends Perhaps one of the toughest things about lockdown for many of us is not being able to see our friends or family. This can take a real toll on our mental health, so it’s important that we try to stay connected even if we can’t physically see people. Why not try: Video calls together Doing activities online together – pub quizzes, virtual drinks together, cooking together Set up a WhatsApp or Facebook group to share updates and photos of what you are doing Continue to celebrate happy occasions remotely over video calls/chats
Helping children stay connected Whilst schools and many childcare providers are currently closed this has created a challenge for parents who are now at home with their children, as well as home schooling and it's important for them to stay in contact with friends too. Why not try: Helping the kids to keep in contact with their friends via phone or video chat Allow a moderated period of time for them to enjoy safe/secure gaming with their friends – plug-in headphones so they can chat to friends whilst playing Help the children to draw pictures or write a letter to post to their friend Encourage children to do school work over FaceTime or video chat with a friend so they can work together
Your own space and time alone is also important Whilst remaining connected is key to maintaining positive mental health, it is equally important that you take some time out every day from work, domestic tasks and home schooling for you – to relax and renew your energy levels, do something you enjoy, maybe try mindfulness or carry out some learning & development. If you're feeling alone or struggling with feelings of isolation there are people who can help – our Employee Assistance Programme providers, Unum LifeWorks, are available 24/7/365 to all employees. It is manned by expert, caring and professional counsellors to support your emotional wellbeing on a range of issues including stress, anxiety, bereavement and financial worries. Call at any time on 0800 048 2702. Finally try to remind yourself that this is a temporary situation and we will get through this.
Together we stay stronger Staying connected with social media In these time when a lot has changed there is still the need to connect with each other. You may be a social media expert or just starting to get to grips with new platforms and ways to use them. Why not start to explore what other companies are doing? This week’s company to follow is - LinkedIn Learning - which enables people to “Keep learning in moments that matter”. Remember we don’t just build communities - we are a community. We would really love to hear what you have been doing so don’t forget to follow our social media accounts and share your updates with us and tagging Barratt Developments. In addition one of our recruitment and employer brand partners Glassdoor has published resources and tips that we hope will help you manage working remotely: · Tips for Managers · Guidelines for parents who have become teachers
· How to run productive virtual meetings · 6 ways to stay connected during isolation
New to MyLearning As our minds turn to ‘restart’ we have added some useful learning materials onto MyLearning. These include: LinkedIn – a range of modules to help you get to grips with this popular work related social media site Essential time management tools Time management for managers The key to delegation (60 second skill)
REMINDER – Don’t forget, there is a range of health and wellbeing, personal development and 60 second skills modules available now on MyLearning. WORTH A LOOK Introduction to Microsoft Teams Video Introduction to Microsoft OneDrive Video To find out more go to MyLearning and click on Library/Recently Added or search by keyword. Also, please ensure you’re up to date with your mandatory eLearning modules.
Internal webinars This week we will be holding a number of internal webinars to support your learning. Stepping into a new role: Tuesday 12 May - 10:00-10:45 The power of networking: Tuesday 12 May - 14:00-14:45 & Thursday 14 May - 10:00-11:45 Stepping up quickly and unplanned: Thursday 14 May - 14:00-14:45 An introduction to mindfulness: Wednesday 13 May - 11:00-12:00 To register for these sessions please use MyLearning. You are allowed to access MyLearning if you have been furloughed as this is classed as training. If you do not have a Barratt email address please register your interest with Ed Beckingham edward.beckingham@barrattplc.co.uk