The other day I decided to take a 24 hour sabbatical from the news: I had reached my tolerance limit for irresponsibility. Bad news doesn’t bother me – sad news doesn’t even bother me – but a constant barrage of bad business decisions, followed by even worse “solutions” left me feeling powerless and in need of a mental health day! Fortunately I was able to attend a couple of chat sessions later that day with like-minded business professionals who value innovation and forward movement – and helped restore my faith in the future.

But I began to wonder, what are others feeling? Like I said, I have a pretty high threshold for pain but I also have a strong support system around me. Considering the economic climate and the workforce uncertainty around us, leaders should be asking themselves how their employees are doing. Tough times can lead to errant behavior – even the best worker can fold under the strain of challenges both at home and at work. Take a look around: are you seeing an increase in absenteeism? Are you having to mediate more interpersonal disagreements than usual? Has productivity slipped? How many of your employees have spouses who are unemployed?

In light of the 24/7 information overload we all live in, it’s easy to feel a loss of control – decisions are being made all around us that we have little or no say in. Pay attention to the impact this may be having – no, probably IS having, on your workforce and be sure step up your communication. Be as open and honest as possible about the current financial state of your company. Ensure everyone is aware of your Employee Assistance Programs or other benefits available to them such as Health Fairs or Fitness Center memberships. Take note of your employees who are maxing out their vacation time due to decreased staff and encourage them to take a day off – they likely need it and you can’t afford to burn them out.

Empathetic, intuitive leadership will make a significant difference in the way we progress through the coming months. How are you doing – and even more – how are those around you doing?