3 tips for practicing compassionate communications

Over the past few years, Americans have confronted a pandemic, political unrest, the expansion of remote work and a surge in bigotry. Keeping focus became a challenge. This played out in workplaces across the nation as people learned to educate their kids, turn their kitchen tables into an office and live differently.

Sandy Sullivan, a lifelong human resources professional who has worked closely with comms teams, helped to lead a workforce through these times. While her current employer manages a large multistate field operation, Sullivan has also worked with traditional bricks and mortar organizations —including advertising agencies.

Many of the processes that communicators were accustomed to have changed permanently. Sullivan shared some tips for how communicators can follow suit and change accordingly.

1. Start with compassionate onboarding

Sullivan explained that communicators must start with the basics and be mindful of distractions and employees’ desire for flexibility. Her current workforce was remote before 2019 as most workers were in the field — meaning that they do not report to a desk or a building.