Beneath the macroeconomic pressures are the microeconomic realities of employee teams. Each of these industries are staffed by our family, friends, and neighbors. By now, very few of those in your inner circle are unaffected. It’s either you or someone you know. You’re either worrying about someone you care about or losing sleep over your own circumstances.
It wears you down. Prolonged stress weakens the immune system. If you can’t influence your own or your loved ones’ conditions by taking some meaningful action, all that’s left is the anxiety of some inevitable bad outcome. Fight, flee, or freeze.
Coping skills break down under prolonged stress. Neither overreaction nor emotional withdrawal will lead to effective problem-solving. In the face of the urge to isolate, these are times when bonding with trusted teammates becomes most important. Although it feels counterintuitive to trust during vulnerability, a broader perspective is the elixir.
Oppressed groups confront their oppressors more effectively together than alone. The power differential requires teamwork. Step back and widen the lens. Join hands with those similarly affected. Get clarity on your mission, values, and vision. Translate your worry into tactical actions that bring about change.
Usually, we define our teams as the coworkers in the adjoining cubicles. These days, our teams have expanded to include the sympathetic others who share our plight. They may be strangers, but their struggles and aims are likely aligned with yours.
Who’s on your team?
