BSM Consulting is excited to announce we have partnered with VMG Health as of 5/1/23. 
Print Blog Post
Leading Employees Through Personal Crisis
Introduction by Laura Baldwin, certified leadership coach: Today’s leaders are tasked with multiple responsibilities in helping organizations meet their goals, which requires many skills and characteristics. One of the greatest duties leaders have is creating an environment of support that allows each team member to be successful. During challenging times for staff, leaders must embrace a key characteristic of emotional intelligence — empathy. Empathy allows us to understand the emotions of other people and treat them according to their emotional needs and responses, helping to provide the right support at the right moments. Many thanks to Elizabeth, who shares below how the empathy shown to her has helped her remain successful during a difficult time.
As leaders within an organization, it is imperative for us to understand the impact we have on our employees. When I ran an ophthalmology practice in Florida, I always tried hard to support my staff professionally and personally. Naturally, over the years, each member of my team encountered the joys and tragedies of the human experience. During tough times, I had staff and physicians lose family members and co-workers, suffer financial loss, experience divorce, have problems with their kids, and so on.
In every instance, I did my best as a leader to extend empathy and compassion. My practice’s leadership team also went above and beyond to help — sometimes through the practice and other times by personally providing an aiding hand. Over the years, several of my former staff have reached out to express gratitude and share what working together meant to them. While their stories warmed my heart, I never imagined the true impact a leader can have when supporting an employee through a crisis — until I experienced this support myself from BSM Consulting.
My BSM Support Team
Though I have been with BSM since August 2013, I felt the true support of the company’s leadership in November when my 22-year marriage dissolved. With that event, I found myself facing some of the darkest days of my life; and yet, my BSM family was always there, committed to seeing me through this challenging time. I honestly do not know what I would have done without the support of this company.
First, Bruce Maller, BSM Founder and CEO, invited me to transfer to our Phoenix, Ariz., office. As I no longer had family in Florida, relocating seemed like a good idea. Since I arrived, Bruce and his wife, Cass, have been incredible mentors to me, often sharing their home, inviting me to dinner, and making sure that I am doing well.
Secondly, Judy Williams, BSM President, has extended such grace and understanding toward me. Over the course of these past months, I have grieved deeply and sometimes was unable to work. Judy supported me, gave me permission to take time off as needed, and helped me shift my workload such that I had time to handle a myriad of personal issues.
Lastly, my BSM co-workers — indeed, my family — offered me friendship and kindness beyond what I could conceive. They called me, checked on me, took the lead on client projects, sent gifts, visited me in Arizona, and sometimes simply listened. They have been the loyal and steadfast friends you want when you go through your worst of times.
Creating a Company Support System
As I reflect on my journey, which continues every day, I have learned a great deal about how companies can lead their employees through times of great personal duress. Below are a few takeaways I learned from BSM.
- Give time. Loyal employees will often be extremely grateful when granted time to deal with personal issues. Though the company may experience a temporary loss in productivity, giving staff flexibility can increase production once they return to a full workload. After coming through my experience, I have a renewed dedication to the company and our customers.
- Be understanding. When employees in crisis do come into work, recognize that their ability to think and respond may be altered. Due to their circumstances, they may experience days or situations where they are not at their best. Personally, I am thankful my company understood who I am, focused on my intentions to be a good employee, and helped me through it all.
- Consider employee needs. Whenever possible, it is helpful to determine if any professional steps can be taken to aid a distressed employee. For example, BSM realized that moving to Arizona would benefit both me and the company, as my relocation resulted in several opportunities — all of which allowed me to work toward carrying a full workload again.
- Show personal concern. Whenever possible, leadership should take an active interest in its employees’ personal lives. Doing so will enable the company to better provide emotional support during times of duress. I am grateful the BSM leadership team consistently continues to check on my emotional well-being even after returning to my usual workload.
- Avoid drama. While companies should work to support employees, leadership must never feed into the drama of personal situations. If personal turmoil begins seeping into the workplace, it’s often beneficial to gently redirect the employee’s focus to the company’s core values. At BSM, this means focusing on exercising personal accountability. While I am not perfect, I tried to conduct myself through honesty, integrity, and responsibility during my trying time.
Continue the Healing Process
.jpg)
As my life continues to move forward, I will not pretend that I am healed. I have experienced transformation on every level — even my last name has changed from Holloway to Monroe! Having gone through a trying situation and learned these difficult lessons, I know they will ultimately impact my ability to be a better leader. Not only will I be forever indebted to BSM for helping me grow during this difficult time, but the tremendous grace the company has shown me proves that great leaders value people above the bottom line.
YOUR TURN: What are some other ways leadership can support staff going through a personal crisis? We’d love to know. Please leave your comment in the section below.