Finding the Silver Lining: The Power of Positivity in Dark Times

In these times of crisis and change, it's easy to focus on our personal fears and anxiety. Yet seeking out the silver lining, even in the darkest times, is critical to ensuring that our presence stays positive and hopeful. We must remember that we're all in this together and that in times of global uncertainties, our humanity and compassion can bring us closer . . . if we let it happen. Here we would like to share some tips and suggestions for staying positive, providing leadership, and bringing people together during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Build virtual communities of practice. Microsoft Teams rooms can serve as the primary communication method for a group. These rooms can be a virtual command center for chats, check-ins, on-the-fly meetings, and other office and face-to-face interactions. Slack is another possibility.

Embrace other ways to connect:

• Students and faculty hold virtual happy hours and coffee breaks as a way to get together on a Zoom call.
• Faculty and students take time to show their children and pets on the screen, which allows a lecture to feel more personal. Show-and-tell has always been a crowd-pleaser.
• Students meet in Zoom and Microsoft Teams rooms and play online games together. Who said you can't have a house party while practicing responsible social distancing? There is a reason why #AloneTogether is currently trending.
• Friends are more accessible than ever, since everyone is at home. Many are watching favorite shows and then video-chatting about the show the next day. Before, it was tough to find this time.

Frame this time as an opportunity for late adopters. It's a win to get technology late adopters up-to-speed and to bring them onboard. We can maximize how we use our tools and know we're not leaving anyone behind. This swift change can propel everyone forward.

Offer acknowledgment. Try creating a "Small Victories" Slack channel where you can call out the excellent work of others. This is an easy way to capture the ways we are winning together (or alone) and give your teams a little extra dose of motivation!

Notice those around you. Use this time to become a better work friend to those in your circle. Reaching out, asking people how they are doing with changes, and suggesting a meet-up for a virtual coffee are little things that go a long way. As the saying goes, everyone is fighting a battle that nobody else knows about.

Take advantage of the fact that creativity is on the rise. It's okay to get creative and try new things. No one is judging right now—it's a creativity free-for-all. Try something new; resilience is the key. It's a brave new world today, and the level of patience exercised by all is remarkable.

Develop a higher tolerance level. Now more than ever, we are getting an insight into the personal lives of our colleagues. Shrug it off when there are hiccups on a virtual call or when things don't go exactly as planned. When colleagues' pets and relatives make guest appearances on video calls or serve as background noise, it is par for the course. In some cases these interruptions or distractions would result in complaints; but now they are welcome as a part of everyday life. People are working from home, and the fact that not everyone has a home office is perfectly fine. We are working from living rooms, dining rooms, laundry rooms, bedrooms, and closets. People are home with their children and partners and pets and are wearing many hats: remote worker, homeschool teacher, referee, short-order cook. How can one be intolerant at a time like this?

Enjoy more family time. Working parents don't usually get to spend a lot of time during the day with their children. The current situation is a nice way to reconnect and spend time together, enjoy chats, and prepare meals. Life is easier when you are not rushing through the day. Pets are also getting more attention; they aren't being left alone during the day to live the "secret life of pets."

Focus on the future. If your job duties are changing, take this time as a chance to think about the big questions. Where do I want to live next? Which job do I want to pivot into? Who do I want to be in a couple years? Other institutional departments or areas that you are interested in may need extra help right now, and reaching out to offer a hand may enable you to move toward their world in the future.

Take breaks. When you are working virtually, it's easier to close your laptop and step away for 15 minutes. Take a break from your screen and do something physical—take a walk, fold some laundry, or make a cup of coffee.

Be present in virtual meetings. In virtual meeting spaces, it's tempting to drift off to your second monitor and start to multitask. Set goals for yourself to not do this and instead to focus on the meeting you're attending. This will ensure that you are getting something out of it and helping to engage others around you.

Instead of projecting fear and worry to our stakeholders and teams in a crisis, let's use this time as an opportunity to celebrate our colleagues, realize the Herculean efforts that we are all undertaking, and take a step back to see the power of our IT organizations. After all, many of our institutions have transitioned to fully online teaching and learning in a matter of weeks or days. If someone would have told you, a year ago, that you could make that happen, would you have believed them? Believe it now and ask yourself: "What else am I capable of?"

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Tonya Bennett is Director of Educational Technology for @PennVet at the University of Pennsylvania.

Amy Zachek is Exam Commons Manager at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.