Whether in person or online, it’s all in how we treat people

Many people celebrated Thanksgiving alone for the first time in their lives.

Unfortunately, many of those same people celebrated Christmas the same way, and it looks like the Covid restrictions won’t be relaxed any time soon.

Covid-19 has many of us doing and not doing things we would never have imagined. But we’re social beings; we like to get together. It’s what keeps many bars and restaurants in business. People don’t frequent these places to be alone.

A lot of people are working from home, and depending on the business and job requirements, many organizations have noticed improved performance. Even so, we still have to keep our people connected. Working together can often build a certain camaraderie that’s beneficial to performance.

Years ago, I ran a plastics extrusion operation on 12-hour night shifts. The guys who worked for me belonged to the Teamsters Union. The work was hard and dirty. I didn’t know any better, so I treated them like I would treat everybody else. If we were shorthanded, I’d relieve them on the machines, so they could eat lunch. I always made sure I ate last.

One night, I got a flat tire just as I was pulling into the parking lot. I didn’t have time to deal with it, since I had to see what was happening before I took over.

Later, I was looking for someone. I looked in the parking lot, and he had my car up on the jack and was changing my tire, while someone else covered his machine for him.

About the same time, somebody else approached me with a suggested adjustment to his machine that would dramatically improve production.

I decided to trust him, and it worked.

They did it on all the machines. People who spend all day or night doing a job learn things about it the engineers who designed it never thought of.

The division manager started auditing my production because he couldn’t believe the numbers. When the guys would go in during the day to get their checks, they were asked what I was doing to them. “Nah, don’t worry. He doesn’t beat us. He’s just a good guy, and we like to help him.”

None of the other managers could produce like that, even though their people probably knew the same secrets. With the right kind of treatment and personal interaction, you can even get hardcore union people working together as a team for the good of the company.

Admittedly, this is harder to do over the phone or with videoconferencing, but it’s still possible. We have to forget the technology and behave as if we’re really face to face.

Over the years, I can’t tell you how many problems, even technical ones, were solved by a few people meeting in a bar after work. Of course, you have to drink responsibly, but the atmosphere changes after the first sip or two. It’s like the business pressures disappear and people actually listen to each other. After a bit, the other person doesn’t seem so bad, so why can’t we work together, even if we’re in different departments?

Whether in person or online, it’s all in how we treat people. So how do you do that on Zoom? Schedule a meeting later in the day, and suggest people show up online with their favorite beverage. Start with a little friendly banter, maybe a toast or two, then ask if anyone knows anything about such and such. It’s not like being there, but with a little skill, it can be pretty close.

And yes, this works with the family as well. Schedule a party, an online gettogether, and try to make believe the technology isn’t there. After a bit, you would be surprised at how much fun you can have.

Whatever your faith, I hope you had happy holidays, and may 2021 be your best yet!

Ronald J. Bourque, a consultant and speaker from Salem, has had engagements throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He can be reached at 603-898-1871 or RonBourque3@gmail.com.