Back to the Office: The COVID Etiquette

The new etiquette.

Today’s WSJ(Wall Street Journal) had a great article on back to the office – referring to it as etiquette.

Etiquette has come a long way since the Emily post days of knowing which fork to use. In my past Brown Bags I’ve invited etiquette experts like Mary McCormick to share etiquette tips from email to meetings.

So what is etiquette? To boil it down it is really about creating a safe space by illustrating the norms that people can expect. What causes people to be uncomfortable? Not knowing. Doing some research and knowing a bit about what to expect helps people feel comfortable, confident and safe. Think about the first time you were around someone with a challenge or disability – should you offer to help- or is that offensive etc. Think about the first time you went to a formal event – do you wear the gloves or not.

We all knew what was expected before in the offices: handshakes, introductions, and depending on your culture, it might include a hug, two kisses, three kisses ☺ Even how closely you stand next to another while conversing is driven by the culture and the etiquette of that culture.

Well Covid has certainly muddied the waters. So how are you creating a safe space in your workplace with the new covid climate?

Here are some suggestions –

Create a straw dog of expectations – For those of you unfamiliar with this term it is to bring a framework of ideas to help generate discussion. A blank slate makes it difficult to come up with ideas but it is easier to ‘tear apart’ ideas, or build on ideas by having a framework in place.

Your straw dog may include the following:

• Wear your mask moving between open areas.
• You may remove your mask at your desk or cube.
• Wear a mask in a closed room, or keep windows and doors open
• Do a temperature check and sign in each morning – one of my clients has an ipad device that takes my picture, and reads my temperature before I enter the building – this not only keeps a time stamp of all present – but aids in exposure tracing if necessary
• Amp up the ventilation/air cleaning
• No handshakes expected – but one may offer – if not offended if the other party declines
• No need to explain your vaccination status – but may offer if one chooses (i.e. I have a vulnerable family member etc.)
• If there is a perceived violation –there’s no attack directly, it goes to a superior to address, calmly and quietly.

this might not be your final list at the office, it's your straw for the future to create this generation

After ‘posting’ the straw dog – people should feel free to discuss alterations and improvements of the plan. What is the purpose of the ‘guideline?’
How should the group decide upon the agreement? Again we don’t want to set up expectations and expect people to comply, we want them to agree and to understand the purpose of us for doing it.

Remember once the organization determines the guidelines, then employees should be agreeing to the guidelines and follow them unless a momentary lapse occurs, and readily adjust when reminded – like all of us who have forgotten to remove our masks once in the privacy of our own car… you know you have – admit it.

Now some of you may not agree with masks, or vaccinations etc. but that is not the point here- the point is for people to feel comfortable and know what to expect.

What is most important is that no one attacks anyone regardless of behavior so that all feel safe. This is the behavior that fosters trust and accountability which is required for a high performing team.

Keep the dialogue open. don’t choose to be offended. Create a checkpoint for when your office will revisit the guidelines.

Do you need a trusted partner who can facilitate your new office etiquette? I work with clients one on one –and with teams to facilitate a shared understanding and agreements. Reach out – I’m here- shawna@shawnacorden.com

Which brings us to our tool of the week:

The Straw Dog. This is a collection of ideas and framework for people to generate ideas – the point is not to make it perfect or as close to the end product as possible but get ideas flowing by shredding, or improving the product. Like brainstorming – where all ideas are heard and ideas build upon one another – the straw dog just gives you a starting place.

SO HERE’S YOUR fieldwork –because COACHING WITHOUT ACTION ISN’T COACHIng – IT’S JUST ENTERTAINMENT

Begin straw dogs for several upcoming meetings to accelerate the time it takes to achieve your objective. Whether it is a list of covid etiquette ideas for your office, or your upcoming holiday celebration – begin with a framework that includes the elements you know are required, but do not be attached to the ideas you put forth. Be willing to update them for the better. The purpose isn’t to exit the meeting with as many ideas as you put forth surviving as possible, but to generate a rich dialogue with the best possible result.

If you liked this blog, please subscribe and share. If you would like to hear more about a topic that would make your work fun by improving the leaders in your organization please drop us a line at shawna@shawnacorden.com

Until next week – take good care