Trying to Lead Well Through COVID 19 with HR Expert, Neil Cosby

In this episode, Roxanne Derhodge and guest Neil Cosby discuss the effects of working from home, including screen fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns, and increased stress. They explore the role of leadership in managing mental health, the rise in alcohol consumption, and the importance of transparent communication from employers. They also emphasize the importance of taking vacation time during lockdown and how easing restrictions can impact employee morale.

We are more than 6 weeks into the quarantine and are now seeing some of the issues that leaders and managers are experiencing while leading a virtual team. On this episode of Authentic Living with Roxanne, we are fortunate to spend some time with Neil Cosby to discuss what’s happening and some helpful ideas and strategies that you may find useful.

Neil is a seasoned Senior Human Resources professional with HR generalist experience spanning over 20 years. Neil is a true believer in the necessity for solid HR infrastructure in any organization that must be aligned with the overall business goals and objectives.

Authentic Touch Points:

Are we getting burnt out from being cooped up? 1:45 Virtual isn’t “in person”. 7:45 Why some are feeling fatigued. 10:15 Supporting your team is Job 1! 15:00 Creating a “Virtual Wellness Day”. 18:15 Issues that can arise during quarantine. 24:35 Recognizing the stress that leaders are facing. 31:30 Take the opportunity to take care of yourself. 33:20
Neil is an Adjunct Professor at Niagara College and Humber College where he teaches HR in respective institutions’ School of Business. The passion Neil has for HR has been instrumental in educating those not familiar with HR fundamentals and securing their “buy-in” so HR is represented in their organizations. Neil is the ideal business development executive for HRprimed Inc.

With many of us working from home and spending most of our time with family, I encourage you to reach out with thoughts or questions. Thanks!

Roxanne

Links:

Neil’s website: https://www.hrprimed.ca/ Neil’s email: [email protected] Neil’s phone#: (905) 929-5075 Roxanne’s LinkedIn profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannederhodge/ Roxanne’s email: [email protected] Chat with Roxanne: https://roxannederhodge.com/chat/ Roxanne’s previous podcasts: https://roxannederhodge.com/blog/

(0:00) Introduction to the episode with Roxanne Derhodge and Neil Cosby (5:15) Impact of working from home amidst familial responsibilities and screen fatigue (9:30) Psychological impacts of virtual communication and the role of external stressors in fatigue and disrupted sleep patterns (14:55) The role of leaders in managing people's mental health during remote work and the need for leadership to prioritize mental health (20:10) The reality of fear and anxiety in the current situation and brainstorming potential strategies for leadership (23:09) The risk of increased alcohol consumption and challenges of maintaining social relationships during remote work (26:20) Potential impact on productivity due to the cumulative effect of stress and loss and strategies for managers to address these issues (29:46) The benefits of virtual social gatherings amongst colleagues and maintaining a fun and relaxed work environment during the pandemic (31:00) The importance of transparent communication from employers and stress experienced by managers during the pandemic (34:04) The importance of taking vacation time during lockdown and impact of easing restrictions on employee morale (37:07) Contacting Neil Cosby for HR support and utilizing Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) during the pandemic (38:16) Closing remarks from Roxanne Derhodge and Neil Cosby