The case for personal development

de-vel-op-ment /dɪˈvɛləpm(ə)nt/ (n) – the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced.

Over the last few months, many of us have been spending much of our increased downtime binging our way through Netflix or perfecting the stiff peaks of our meringues. But might this time be better spent in other ways?

Personal development is often overlooked by both employers and employees, but investment in yourself, or your team, is never wasted. Debrett's tutor and head of sales Olly Walker explains why now is an opportune time to develop and upskill yourself and/or your team:

  1. To develop your/their current skillset

As human beings, we are constantly developing. From newborn to toddler, teenager to adult, student to professional, our life experiences impact our personality and abilities, shaping us as people. This should not be any different in the professional world. While we all develop different strengths, we are always going to have areas of weakness. Too many people take their strengths for granted and ignore or deny their weaknesses, but if we make a conscious effort to hone our strengths and work on our weaknesses, we will become more successful more quickly.

  1. To uncover hidden strengths

We all have talent, although it is not always realised or obvious. Through looking inwardly, allowing yourself to learn from others and accepting different perspectives, you may find that you can do something you never thought you could previously, or that something you have been doing for your whole professional career could be done better, more efficiently or more effectively.

  1. To gain a reputation for growth

People want to grow and should be encouraged to do so. As does a business. If you’re a manager who actively invests in your team’s development, you will show that yours is a great place to work and an attractive opportunity to potential new recruits. Similarly, if you’re constantly on the lookout for ways to evolve and enhance your skillset, you can rest assured that your manager has picked up on this. You can also use this to your advantage when applying for more senior roles in the future. Somebody who embraces change positively is somebody who is going places.

Somebody who embraces change positively is somebody who is going places.

  1. To maintain motivation and a positive mentality

Whilst often a big factor in our professional choices, the monthly pay cheque is not the only thing most of us want to gain from our workplace. If you, or your team, do not see any personal progress, this will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on an individual’s state of mind. Over time boredom and a sense of “treading water” will kick in. You can guard against this by shaking things up and looking for new ways to challenge yourself or your team.

  1. To retain a strong workforce

Henry Ford once said, “the only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay”. As times change, businesses need to adapt and evolve, but a business is only as strong as its workforce. If a manager allows his or her employees to coast, the business will be affected at some point. Keeping yourself and your staff challenged, motivated and happy will increase productivity and reduce staff turnover (and by extension, recruitment costs).

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self” – Ernest Hemingway

Leading the Change: An Interview with Brigit Bloch

Brigit Bloch is the Founder of Brigit’s Bakery in Chandos Place, Covent Garden and the Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Bus Tour, on which customers enjoy a traditional tea aboard an original 1960s Routemaster while touring cultural landmarks throughout London. We spoke to Brigit about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality industry, and her plans now that the bakery and bus are back up and running.

1.)    How has your work routine changed since you’ve been working from home?

Since our bakery in Covent Garden and our afternoon tea bus tours were closed, we used the ‘downtime’ to review all aspects of the business which are ordinarily harder to address whilst the business in full flow. We’ worked on everything from refurbishing our sites, to re-vamping our website together with a graphic designer, all the way through to making improvements to our customer service guidelines and other internal business structures too. As we effectively lost both Easter and Summer seasons which are vital to as a business such as ours that relies heavily on tourism, we’ve now skipped forward to planning our Christmas activity which we aim to make even bigger and better than previous years!

2.)    What, for you, have been the biggest challenges of working from home?

The biggest challenges of working from home were in maintaining a similar schedule to that which I would follow under normal circumstances. As many people within the food and beverage and hospitality industries in particular have had their time cut down, or been placed on furlough, it’s taken much longer to obtain responses from suppliers and partners, which has made it harder to achieve objectives within a schedule.

3.)    And what are some of the benefits?

‘Downtime’ is rare in an industry like ours where we are busiest when the rest of the country is on holiday. Therefore it’s been a positive to have some breathing room to concentrate on and finalise future projects. We’ve also dedicated our energies to reviewing certain aspects of the business which are harder to maintain whilst the business is in operation. I feel we’ve all realised during this time that it’s the basic things in life that matter the most. So as a business, we too worked to further enhance our offering by taking it back to our roots: to provide our customers with a unique experience with great food and great service. It also gave us the opportunity to connect on a different level with our teams across the board who are a vital part of our family, even via just a quick call to check in on them and their families at this time.

it’s been a positive to have some breathing room to concentrate on and finalise future projects.

4.)    How has your team had to adapt to the current situation?

We had to place the majority of our day-to-day staff on furlough whilst the business was effectively put on pause by the restrictions. It was a difficult decision, but we’re thankful that the government made this scheme available. Thankfully, we are now back in operation, albeit a soft restart for the initial few weeks, and so we have a proportion of our family back at work!

5.)    What changes has your business undergone?

Our bakery and afternoon tea bus businesses were completely closed for 3 months. In the meantime we, as the owners, took that time to push ahead with some exciting new plans for customers and staff to come back to. We continue to work on our first ever offering for children under the age of 5 in partnership with Peppa Pig. We’ve also seen the huge growth in the home baking market during the lockdown period, which we are now launching as a new arm to the business. Brigit’s Bake Club will be positioned as the Hello Fresh of the baking world. Subscribers will receive deliveries of all ingredients needed for specific cakes which will come complete with online tutorials and community too. People have a newfound appreciation for creating things with their hands and developing new skills. Brigit’s Bake Club is the perfect vehicle through which to achieve this.

6.)    What advice can you share for managing and leading a team during a crisis?

Transparency and communication are key. It has been and continues to be an unprecedented and worrying time for all, particularly in our sector where we are so reliant on tourism as well. Therefore, we’ve been as transparent as possible with our teams to keep them abreast of all changes as soon as we know. We’ve also realised the importance of not becoming complacent. As business owners, we need to always innovate and keep thinking outside of the box in this ever changing world in order to maintain the business and hopefully start to grow again. Finally, stay connected with your customers, staff and partners. Their loyalty is key to any business and you need to work together to build a better future. 

Stay connected with your customers, staff and partners. Their loyalty is key to any business and you need to work together to build a better future

7.)    How do you think your industry will change as a result of this situation?

There will be a dramatic change in our industry. I don’t envisage a return to ‘normality’ until at least summer 2021 and even then, there will be a new normal. I worry a vast number of businesses won’t make it through as we hear of companies going into administration on a daily basis. Fortunately we have built our business on solid foundations; quintessential British values and a unique offering, and took our time to grow organically. The UK government has done what it could to assist with grants and through its many schemes, nonetheless the high street will never be the same.

8.)    What is coming up for your business over the next few months?

We are thrilled to have reopened and welcomed customers back to the bakery and aboard our afternoon tea bus tours. We look forward to resuming our usual full schedule and also look forward to launching Brigit’s Bake Club and The Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tours to our existing and new audience too.

Leading the Change: An Interview with Sajda Mughal OBE

Having narrowly escaped death in the London terrorist attack on 7th July 2005, Sajda Mughal OBE left her corporate background to lead the multi-award winning women's charity JAN Trust in its work to educate communities to tackle extremism, marginalisation and violence against women and girls.

The daughter of Ugandan refugees expelled by the dictator Idi Amin, Sajda is passionate about empowering those from under-represented groups (particularly Muslim women) and over the past decade and a half, has supported thousands of women and young people across the UK. We spoke to Sajda about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the JAN Trust and the wider charity sector.

  1. How has your work routine changed since you’ve been working from home?

We had to shut our centre in North London, in order to protect the health of our beneficiaries and staff, in March. Since then, I have been juggling working at home with home schooling my two young children. This has meant my routine for working has had to adapt to ensure I have time for both home schooling and work, meaning that whilst I still work through the day, I am also working in the evenings and at the weekends.

  1. What, for you, have been the biggest challenges of working from home?

Working from home has indeed presented it challenges. In particular, given the work we do as a charity, we have been supporting vulnerable women from the local community for over 30 years and have yet to experience the high volumes of calls we are currently receiving from women requesting help due to the consequences of isolation on them and their families. Existing inequalities have deepened throughout this crisis. By and large, for JAN Trust, requests for support focus on issues surrounding mental health – in particular depression and increased domestic abuse. The reality of this crisis is that our services are in greater demand than usual, but there are immense complexities involved in providing support. This increase in demand, on top of juggling other demands and home schooling has created a lot of pressure…it rarely feels like there are enough hours in the day!

The reality of this crisis is that our services are in greater demand than usual, but there are immense complexities involved in providing support

  1. And what have been some of the benefits?

For me, the greatest benefit of working from home has been the ability to spend more time with my children. I am always incredibly busy, and therefore, spending this extra time with family has been great. Despite the adversity to helping our beneficiaries during this crisis, the ability to do so has shown to me the strength of the charity.

  1. How has your team had to adapt to the current situation?

The team is working remotely, meaning we have all had to adapt to using online platforms, as well as learning how to communicate with each other effectively whilst working remotely.

  1. What changes has your organisation undergone?

The most significant change we have undergone at JAN Trust is the closing of our women’s centre in North London. Much of our core work takes place here, so having to close our doors, for the time being, to the women we work with week-in, week-out has changed the dynamic of our work, and this has felt like a huge change. The crisis has also meant we have needed to focus on ensuring we can help these women as much as possible and as such, much time is spent ensuring we have funding to assist during this crisis in order to alleviate the pressure on the charity.

  1. What advice can you share for managing and leading a team during a crisis?

Managing during a crisis means extending further empathy to colleagues and understanding extra difficulties they may be facing during this time. Ensuring that there are regular interactions taking place, not only to catch up as you would usually in the office, but also to make sure you are supporting them and listening so that they are able to work to the best of their ability during the crisis.

Managing during a crisis means extending further empathy to colleagues and understanding extra difficulties they may be facing during this time.

  1. How do you think the charity sector will change as a result of this situation?

The charity sector is already showing that it will be seriously affected, in particular BAME charities. Many of these organisations, such as JAN Trust, already existed amid a funding crisis, struggling on a daily basis to keep their doors open, whilst maintaining their commitment to the communities they exist to support. The current crisis further exacerbates these funding issues. There exists an increasing demand for services and the need to adapt systems to support the need for safe working. This is putting a greater financial strain on BAME organisations. The Ubele Initiative has found that 90% of BAME micro and small voluntary and community organisations could face permanent closure. If specialist service cease to exist, then we are at risk of leaving these communities’ at risk.

The Ubele Initiative has found that 90% of BAME micro and small voluntary and community organisations could face permanent closure.

  1. What is coming up for you over the next few months?

Over the next few months we will continue to focus on supporting BAME women who are struggling as the crisis continues, as well as on ensuring our sustainability as a charity to make sure we are able to carry this vital work on for foreseeable future – small charities like JAN Trust working with communities on the ground are in need of support! To find out more about our work for marginalised women, please visit www.jantrust.org

The new park etiquette

Between Blur and Percy the Park Keeper, the rules for conducting oneself in a British park have been fairly well documented. With the exception of keeping dogs on leads and knowing when you can and can’t feed the ducks, there isn’t too much you can do wrong.

But between the warm summer weather and the restrictions on meeting up indoors, the public spaces that were once the preserve of low-key picnics and weekend jogs are becoming popular social hubs. Debrett’s senior business development manager Dan Scothern has shared his advice on best park practice for your next visit.

Groups:

Put very simply, stick to the government guidelines: keep groups at 6 or less, and keep your distance if members of the group live in a different household. Similarly, be sure to allow plenty of distance between your group and others when setting up camp.

Children and Dogs:

Without wishing to equate the two, small children and dogs can pose a similar challenge when it comes to social distancing, being both naturally curious and heedless of personal space. Keep a close eye on them – and dogs on leads if necessary – to ensure they don’t wander off to investigate another group’s picnic.

Music:

Some gentle audio accompaniment is fine within your own area, but beware of ramping up the volume: others might not share the same tastes as you, or want to listen to music at all. This may change as the afternoon fades into evening, but if you must elect yourself park DJ, consider your audience and keep it clean.

Ball Games:

A socially distant game of frisbee is harmless – less so using a bustling common to practise penalties ahead of next season. Just because a ball isn’t physically hitting another group, doesn’t mean it’s not affecting their afternoon or forcing them into an uncomfortable state of catlike readiness. Exercise your best judgment here, and if in doubt, play elsewhere.

Alcohol:

Whilst it’s not illegal in the UK to consume alcohol in public, drink responsibly and remember that the park is not an extension of your garden. Bear in mind that increased consumption will not only reduce your inhibitions (and spatial awareness) but also likely require a visit to the loo, with no guarantee that any will be open nearby.

Litter:

Always take it with you when you leave. There’s very little elaboration needed with this one, and no excuse for thinking that others should tidy up your mess.

4 tips for communicating with a mask on

Many shops in the UK have now reopened, and further lockdown easing will come into force next weekend. As our interaction with the outside world – and other people – gradually increases, many of us will choose to wear masks or face coverings in public places. Indeed, these are mandatory in certain settings, such as on public transport and in hospitals.

Covering the bottom half of our faces can present communication challenges, concealing one’s expression and muffling speech. Wearing one can also make us feel ‘closed off’ from the world, while seeing others in masks can induce a sense of wariness. 

So how can you remain friendly and approachable, even with a mask on? Here are some simple tips:

We’re all still getting used to the new normal, but eye contact will become even more important when we can’t gauge each others’ expressions. Eye contact is the basis of trust, releasing chemicals like oxytocin in the brain. If someone doesn't look us in the eye it’s safer for our subconscious mind to assume that we can’t trust that person rather than that they may be nervous.

Your mouth may be covered, but a smile is still visible in your eyes and the rest of your face. It can also be audible in your speech, making you sound warmer and friendlier, so remember to keep smiling even from behind your mask.

A face covering muffles speech and eliminates the possibility of lip-reading for those with hearing difficulties. Raise your voice and speak as clearly as possible to make yourself heard.

Debrett’s coaches sometimes use an exercise in which participants put on masks and adopt a range of poses, to illustrate the importance of body language and of how much can be apparent from our posture and gestures when our faces are invisible. Keep your body language positive and open - avoid slouching or crossing your arms - if you want to come across as friendly and approachable.

Leading the Change: An Interview With Nicola Sexton

We are all inter-dependent on one another and so it’s key to work as a team and get through this together.

As part of our new interview series in which we speak to women leaders about steering their teams and organisations through the coronavirus crisis, Debrett's caught up with shoe designer Nicola Sexton, founder of Nicola Sexton Shoes

Founded in 2010, the mother-daughter-run brand is supported by an ever expanding list of retailers internationally and is available at selected boutiques across the UK, Ireland and the USA. Nicola was presented with the BFA/FN Platform at Magic Award during her first exhibition in Las Vegas, and has since been selected as a finalist in the Footwear Industry Awards for Designer of The Year 2019 and 2020, and Drapers Footwear Awards 2019.

1. How has your work routine changed since you’ve been working from home?

My work routine usually involves a fair amount of travel, both within the UK and internationally, for trade shows, visiting the stores where my collections are stocked and overseeing production at our factories in Italy. Since lockdown, this has all but ground to a halt, which has faced us with some obvious challenges on the retail and sales fronts, however it has also given me the opportunity to reflect and dedicate my time and thoughts wholly to the design aspect of my next Spring Summer 2021 collection without distractions which I’ve enjoyed very much.

2. What, for you, have been the biggest challenges of working from home?

I have always preferred face-to-face interaction in business. Having been a boutique owner for 10 years, I learned so much from meeting and speaking directly with my customers. So much so that it was through their feedback that I decided to launch a collection under my own name. I miss this human interaction with my customers, who are now the owners and buyers of the boutiques where my collections are stocked. However, I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for video calls, which are certainly a great way of staying connected with them. On the design front, the travel restrictions have also created a little challenge as I’ve always drawn the key inspiration for my collections each season from my travels as it’s the time that I feel most relaxed and inspired. Fortunately, I have some great memories of trips within the last year to which I’ve turned for the forthcoming season. Also, I had very luckily chosen the fabrics for my next Spring Summer 2021 collection in Italy back in February just before lockdown.

 I miss human interaction with my customers, but I've discovered a newfound appreciation for video calls

3. And what are some of the benefits?

Once I settled into the new routine, I’ve definitely felt that it’s been easier to manage my work / life balance during this time. As so much of my time is usually spent travelling around the country or internationally, this period has given me more flexibility to re-address my priorities on all fronts, whilst taking the time to reflect and prepare the next steps of my business so we’re ready to charge ahead full steam once the restrictions ease.

4. How has your team had to adapt to the current situation?

We are a family-run business and so I’m fortunate to work very closely with my daughter Charlie who handles the digital aspects of the business. Therefore in terms of the core team, the current situation has had less of an effect on us compared with the changes in how a multinational company now operates.

5. What changes has your business undergone?

We had to adapt our strategy to focus solely on our online business whilst our retail partners were closed. We’ve also made a concerted effort to support our retailers as best as we can by carrying some of the stock that was initially ordered by them on our online store. It’s been a rewarding time as I’ve personally learned so much about how to pivot plans according to market conditions.

It’s been a rewarding time as I’ve personally learned so much about how to pivot plans according to market conditions.

6. What advice can you share for managing and leading a team during a crisis?

Communication and teamwork are key. As a small business myself, I empathise fully with the issues faced by some of our retailers hence why I’ve tried to support them as best as we can during this time. We are all inter-dependent on one another and so it’s key to work as a team and get through this together.

7. How do you think your industry will change as a result of this situation?

It’s an interesting time for the fashion industry in light of the global impact of this pandemic. The immediate impact through loss of sales has been felt by most brands and has accelerated some much needed conversations within the industry to reset the way in which we operate, namely to align the buying, delivery and discounting schedules with the actual seasons and also to reduce ‘waste’. With the way the industry currently operates, Autumn Winter collections are delivered to stores in July whilst the weather is still warm, and Spring Summer collections in December / January at the height of winter. This in turn exacerbates the need for brands to design big collections to appeal to customers over the seasonal changes, which increases the risk of potential ‘waste’, but to also discount at the peak of each season which again affects margins and subsequently profitability. As widely reported, profitability in retail across the board has been an issue for many years between the rise in costs of maintaining bricks and mortar stores and the change in customers’ shopping habits, so I hope it’s a shift that will be put into effect to ensure the survival of smaller businesses in particular.

8. What is coming up for your business over the next few months?

We are now in the midst of designing the next SS21 collection and wait to see how the industry continues to evolve. Depending on the situation and on the status with international travel, it is more likely that we will be showcasing and selling this next season to our wholesale buyers virtually, instead of at trade shows. We’re also working on some exciting marketing ideas for the current SS20 and forthcoming AW20 collections whilst we all ease back into some sort of normality.

Debrett's readers are entitled to 20% off the Nicola Sexton range at www.nicolasexton.co.uk with the code debretts20. Offer excludes sale items and expires Tuesday 29th June.

How to host a garden gathering

Now that we’re allowed to host small groups outside, those of us lucky enough to have a garden will be shaking out our picnic rugs and buffing our barbeque tongs in anticipation of a summer of al fresco entertaining. But a lack of in-person interaction over the last couple of months, combined with evolving guidelines around social distancing, may mean your first foray back into hosting friends is far from relaxing. Here’s our advice for making the most of that long-awaited reunion:

You may be thrilled that the six-person maximum gives you an excuse to see only the people you actually like, but keep that exclusive invitation quiet if you want to avoid causing offence. Resist posting photos of your gathering on Instagram or Facebook – lockdown easing means FOMO is back, and it’s worse than ever. 

You’re terrified that your guests might attempt to hug you, while they have no idea whether or not it’s OK to use your loo. There’s plenty to feel awkward about right now, but addressing it from the outset can alleviate the cringe-factor. Greeting your guests with ‘I wish I could give you a hug’ lets them know to keep their distance, while saying ‘Feel free to use the bathroom’ might have seemed ludicrous this time last year, but has become an imperative now.

We get it – it’s been months since you last hosted friends, and it’s tempting to celebrate with a six-course extravaganza and matching wines. But if your culinary tasklist keeps you indoors while your guests are stuck outside, it defeats the point of being able to socialise again. Do as much as possible in advance or keep it simple by offering fresh salads, breads and cheeses (or a few meat and veggie options for the barbeque) to maximise the time you can spend with your guests.

If it’s warm, help your guests to stay the course by providing shady seating where possible. Have sun cream on standby, as well as plenty of water and soft drinks in addition to alcohol. If the forecast is looking cool, suggest people bring extra jumpers and coats for the evening. Without the option to move inside, any rain will inevitably call a halt to your gathering, but having a few umbrellas on standby will mean guests can at least finish their drinks before saying their goodbyes.

4 tips for pitching by video

The same skills that make a good pitcher tend to make a good communicator: being able to relax in front of an audience and read body language and silent cues to adjust your approach accordingly. But what happens when, instead of being in a boardroom and six feet away from the client, you’re in your own home? Not only are you missing your usual soft skills toolkit, but you now have the added threats of child intrusions, slow internet and interruptions to deal with.

So how do you pitch effectively over a video call? Rupert Wesson, director at Debrett’s, shares his key tips for performing in front of a webcam:

1.) Be succinct: There is no greater compliment to your client than valuing their time. Don’t forget that video calls take longer to cover the same material as a face-to-face conversation. So:

2.) Be interactive: Give the client plenty of airtime. Conversations are harder on a video call and as a result many people deliver a SlideShare monologue instead. This is off-putting and may mean you never truly find out what the buyer really thinks or wants to know. Instead:

3.) Be disciplined:

4.) Be prepared:

It’s a simple toolkit but should stand anyone in good stead until we return to office (and long after that too!)

How to Ace a Video Interview

Job interviews are daunting at the best of times. There’s pressure to build rapport and showcase your skills and achievements (without seeming arrogant), as well as to convey your value to the business and leave a lasting impression. If you are a clear communicator, however, and able to pick up on silent signals and body language, that pressure is lessened.

That’s not so easy with video interviews, when you and your interviewer(s) have to glean what you can from a screen, while also having to contend with possible connectivity issues and delays.

So how do you nail an interview hosted on Zoom? We’ve compiled a few simple tips for success:

1. Pace Yourself and Pause

Interview nerves can make us speak quickly – with lots of 'ums' and 'ers' – or give rambling, unstructured answers. Remember to pause: this will not only allow you to pace yourself and think about your responses, but will also alleviate some anxiety.

Similarly, when the interviewer (seemingly) finishes speaking, err on the side of caution and wait a half-second before starting your reply. This will allow for any delay in the connection, meaning you don't inadvertently interrupt him or her mid-flow.

2. Prepare

It goes without saying that you should prepare for an interview, but having it take place in your own home allows a rare opportunity to refer to your notes! Think about some commonly-asked questions and prepare your responses beforehand – there’s nothing to stop you having flash cards taped to the wall in front of you so that you’re never caught on the back foot. Just remember to keep looking at your interviewer rather than the wall.

3. Do Some Stage Management

Assume that the content of your CV is the only information the interviewer has about you. Just as in a face-to-face setting, turning up carrying a bike helmet lets them know you’re a cyclist, so your background on a video interview provides an insight into your life outside work. There’s no need to replace your ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ sign with one that reads ‘Always Be Closing’, or to have your Suits boxsets proudly on display to show you’re serious about law, but be mindful that these things will be noticed (and tidy up!).  Ensure that you have good lighting (avoid sitting in front of a window, which will make you look very dark), and that the camera and mic are working. Finally, play it safe by wearing what you usually would to an interview.

4. Have a good answer to “what have you been up to in lockdown?”

The issue of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and how you’re coping with it, might be raised during some initial small talk rather than as an ‘official’ interview question, but your answer is still important. Be honest: gardening, exercise and looking after your children may seem like run-of-the-mill answers, but lying on the spot about having learnt a language or become an accomplished basket weaver will only come back to haunt you. Remember to mention any additional efforts like volunteering, fundraising or simply helping out your neighbours.

5. Gain an idea of next steps

Try to get an understanding of timelines, processes, or anything that gives you an idea of what to expect going forward. Due to the uncertainty of the world right now, there might be some things out of the interviewer’s hands, so don’t take a ‘we’ll review the position after we’ve seen some more applicants and let you know’ as a negative – just manage your expectations accordingly.

Dan Scothern, Debrett's Senior Business Development Manager

5 ways communication is driving us mad right now

If you’re finding communication a bit challenging at the moment, you're not alone. Between endless Zoom meetings, WhatsApp chats and work emails, there seem to be more ways to talk than ever.

But with so many demands on our time and attention, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether it's a shouty message group you could do without, or yet another virtual social engagement you'd prefer to swerve, we've got some advice for overcoming five communication challenges affecting many of us right now:

1.) The interminable Zoom call

How do you conclude a video call when you clearly have nowhere else to be? Many of us will have been secretly disappointed when Zoom lifted its 40-minute time limit: that five-minute countdown was the ultimate get-out clause.

If you sense it’s time to draw a meeting or chat to a close, the chances are that others do too. In a work scenario, you could offer to send a summary and next steps by email, while thanking others for their time. On a social call, a friendly ‘It’s been so great to catch up’ or ‘Thank you for suggesting a call’ will usually do the trick.

2.) The incessant virtual invitations

It’s bingo with friends one night and a family quiz the next – not to mention that Zoom wedding you’re attending on Saturday. Far from dampening our social lives, lockdown seems to have enhanced them. But if drinks-by-laptop don’t quite cut it for you, or you’re just not feeling that sociable, how can you decline an invitation without offending the organiser?

It’s fine to be honest and say that you’re lying low for a bit but will catch up properly soon. Alternatively, you could invent another engagement – there’s no need to go into specifics (just remember whatever it is you’ve invented, and remember to be ‘unavailable’ when you said you were going to be).

As for virtual weddings, baby showers and birthday parties, you’ll just have to dig deep (and dig out your best outfit) and get involved. Your friends are likely to be disappointed not to be celebrating their special day as planned, so the least you can do is make an effort. That means turning up on time and staying until the end, just as you would in person.

3.) The passive-aggressive work email thread

Many of us are feeling underproductive right now, and when business is slow it’s easy to become defensive or blame others. Email is not the best medium for diplomacy, so if you’re worried that inter-colleague communication is becoming a little prickly, pick up the phone instead. Hearing someone’s voice humanises them, and you’re less likely to be snarky or snide. And guaranteed, you’ll resolve whatever issue you were discussing much more quickly than through endless written back-and-forths.

4.) The neighbourhood WhatsApp group

You don’t need to be reminded that it’s Clap for Carers night again, and you’ve already seen that hilarious TikTok video thank you very much. Nor are you much interested in your neighbours’ online shopping dramas or fruitless searches for flour.

One word: mute. If your WhatsApp groups are filling your phone with unwanted drama, you’re entitled to ignore them. Pressing the ‘mute’ option allows you to take back control – without the controversy-causing act of actually leaving the group.

5.) The radio silence

It’s the email that goes unanswered for several weeks, or the text message left awkwardly hanging without a reply. On the flipside of compulsive over-communicating seems to be a tendency for ignoring contact right now.

Let’s face it, life – and communication – are weird at the moment, and you can’t blame others for dropping the ball occasionally. In a work exchange, someone may have been furloughed without your knowledge, or may be juggling multiple responsibilities from home. Try not to take it personally; instead, leave it a week or so (a couple of days will suffice for a text message) before sending a polite follow-up. If you still don’t hear anything, move on. You can always check in again when all this is over…

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