When “How Are You Doing?” Isn’t Enough | Bobbie LaPorte

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May 3, 2021May 15, 2021

When “How Are You Doing?” Isn’t Enough

While it does feel like we’re heading back toward something like “normal,” don’t assume that everyone you work with is okay. A simple “how are you doing?” isn’t enough. According to a recent CDC survey, 41% of people are struggling with mental health issues related to the pandemic and dealing with feelings of loneliness, loss, isolation, and grief. In her May 3rd “Your Best Next Move” video, Bobbie LaPorte shares an easy way that you can check in with team members to show genuine concern and support.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT OF YOUR BEST NEXT MOVE: When “How Are You Doing?” Isn’t Enough

Hi everyone, Bobbie LaPorte here again with my weekly tip for your Best Next Move – where I help you have more agency in your work, acknowledge your capacity to act and see what you can do right now.

We’ve been talking recently in these weekly tips about how it feels like we’ve turned the corner on the pandemic; that while we can never return to the way things were, it does feel like we are heading back to more of what we consider “normal” for us. That’s good news for all of us.

But I have also cautioned about the temptation of believing that everyone is fine now – because they are not. Many of the effects of the pandemic continue to impact the people in our lives – feelings of loneliness, loss, grief, isolation, restlessness.

Here are some very interesting but troubling data: a recent study by the CDC found that 41% of all adults struggle with mental health issues from the pandemic – 41%. And 40% of those surveyed said that no one from their work had checked in on them. No one. Hard to believe that is possible…..but we have all been dealing with our own issues and challenges during this time, and we often assume that people are ok if they don’t tell us otherwise.

It only takes a minute to check in on your team members, to show concern, to listen, and perhaps give them a lifeline if they need it. Only a minute.

So, here’s my tip:

When, not if, you reach out to people on your team to check in on them – don’t ask “How are you doing” – that is a genericized greeting or question that has very little meaning….and people asking it often don’t respect a response, or at least not an honest one.

Instead – ask something more specific like:

“How are you feeling today” or
“What’s giving you the greatest stress this week?

A more specific, directed query like these will show that you really are interested in them, and may give you real insight into their state of mind, their mental health, and how you can specifically support them – now.

I want 2021 to be a year of momentum for you, one of possibility thinking where you take advantage of the agency, we sometimes forget we have.

That’s my tip for this week. I’ll see you next Monday; take care of yourselves!

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