Every industry in America has faced disruptions and challenges due to COVID-19. The world of talent acquisition is no different.

Talent acquisition leaders have been forced to adapt their management styles to meet the needs of employees during this time. To conquer the struggles of the work-from-home environment, we recently hosted a webinar to provide tips on how leaders can find a balance between productivity and empathy. The discussion – which featured TalentRise’s Kristen Lampert and Huron Consulting’s Paul Abrahms – examined topics such as leadership approaches, virtual management, communication strategies, and many more.

If you missed the webinar, don’t worry – we’ve got your back! We compiled the highlights below with four key takeaways that will help talent acquisition professionals lead through crisis:

  • Set the standard

As a leader, understand the importance of taking charge and setting the right example for your team. Effective communication is the key to success in this virtual environment. This starts at the top. Senior leadership must be authentic and transparent with their employees to provide clarity at each level of the organization. Many businesses are choosing to hold daily briefings to allow executive leadership to set the tone for the organization and put employees’ worries at ease. Do your best to maintain consistent messaging with your teams and keep them apprised of happenings within your business. Be honest when addressing the concerns of your employees. Following these steps will establish a level of trust between you and your team, keeping workers engaged and motivated.

  • Know your team

Now is a crucial time to schedule one-on-one check-in meetings with your team to ensure their health and well-being. Understand the capabilities of your employees. Ask them about the things that are working well. Inquire about what you can do to help them maintain productivity. Encourage feedback – whether it be positive or negative – regularly. These daily conversations help to keep open lines of communication and show your desire to get to know your employees on a more personal level. Be sensitive to different situations that employees may be facing in their personal lives and adjust your expectations accordingly. Possessing a more complete understanding of your team will allow you to plug your employees into appropriate engagements and ensure they are contributing to meaningful projects.

  • Promote professional development

For leaders who find downtime during their workday, commit to a mindset of continual self-improvement. Take advantage of the thousands of courses offered on LinkedIn Learning. Tune in to webinars to hear from industry leaders. Utilize free online workshops and teaching tools. Lean on your network and learn from other professionals to develop new strategies for workplace leadership. Professional development should be top-of-mind for talent acquisition leaders to improve themselves and their teams.

  • Expand your network

Leaning on other leadership professionals is crucial during this time. Leveraging your network and having conversations with connections in different industries is incredibly important for any leader. Building your external network of contacts and having regular discussions with these individuals will ultimately help you gain valuable insight and hopefully solve workplace problems. Even though our world has shifted to a virtual setting, continue to develop relationships and build rapport with people – both inside and outside your organization. Join in on Zoom happy hours to meet new faces. Utilize LinkedIn to explore professionals who you’d like to get to know. Do whatever it takes to continue to amass your list of trusted contacts.

If you’d like to watch the full “Bridge Over Troubled Waters: How Talent Acquisition Teams Navigate Through COVID-19” webinar, you can access it here.

To learn more on how to more effectively manage your workforce in a virtual environment, visit the TalentRise Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

If you have further questions from the webinar, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristen Lampert, the webinar’s host, on LinkedIn. You can connect with the webinar’s featured guest, Paul Abrahms, on LinkedIn.