In the face of adversity, there is also opportunity — that’s why UG2 is helping employees take on new challenges.
Worldwide, we’re all faced with a new normal that doesn’t feel normal at all. Structuring our days can be a challenge especially when the future feels so uncertain. That’s caused many of us to think differently about how we’re spending our time. At UG2, we’re working to ensure that our employees are staying connected, healthy, safe, and empowered.
For many, including myself, taking things “one day at a time” has become a way of life. We are focused on prioritizing our own health and well-being, taking care of our family members, staying connected to friends and other loved ones, and remaining committed to our work-related responsibilities.
If you’re like me, you’ve had good days and bad days—and that’s okay. This is an unprecedented event, and the boundaries between work and home are blending and blurring more than ever. It’s natural to feel the weight of your emotions when things are uncertain and to some degree, feel out of our control. At the same time, it’s also a time of opportunity, personally and professionally. I encourage those at home to explore the following:
- Take time for reflection and meditation and create a consistent sense of mindfulness.
- Look at the free online courses offered by numerous colleges and universities, to harness new skillsets or strengthen existing ones.
- Watch TED Talks, either on the TED site or on YouTube, to bolster your knowledge, be inspired, or feel fresh motivation.
- Start a regular exercise routine, which is one of the top ways to stay emotionally and physically healthy.
- Read more widely and break out of the habit of scrolling on your phone.
- Set new goals for the future, after the stay-at-home orders are lifted. Think about what insights this time has given you and how you’ll use those insights to shape your future.
What UG2 Is Doing
As you can see, many of the suggestions above involve learning, personal development, and professional growth. At UG2, we’re working to make sure our team is supported in those directions, thanks to a considerable effort to foster the skills and engagement of all our employees. Here’s what we’re doing right now:
- Making our online learning portal available to all UG2 employees, which offers over 150 learning modules on various topics, as well as five curriculum tracks focused on building and strengthening skills like communication, presentation and meeting skills, time management, managerial skills, and business writing skills.
- Sharing unique learning opportunities such as college and university courses on topics like negotiation skills, financial accounting, building high-performance teams, public speaking, persuasive writing, optimizing diversity on teams, the science of well-being, and many more.
- Sharing interesting and educational webinar opportunities as they become available.
- Developing and publishing blog content to educate and inform.
- Delivering new trainings relevant to today’s circumstances: Emerging Viruses; University Precautions Against Infection; Living with Uncertainty; Working Remotely.
Whether you’re taking on personal or professional challenges, the main theme of your efforts should be nourishment. On some days, that might simply be putting a meal on the table while juggling work responsibilities. On other days, it may involve thinking about signing up for an online degree program. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to self-care.
Remember, we have a unique opportunity right now to pursue our personal growth while making sure that we do not compromise our mental and physical wellness. Nourish and be kind to yourself and above all, stay safe.