The Foreign Service Journal, April 2021

24 APRIL 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL engage in dialogue; if you want them to question old ways of doing business, then communication is essential. We need to vary our methods and make the effort. In the days of 100 percent virtual work, that takes even more dedication. Online coffees aren’t great, but they can mean a lot. Figure out how to do those holiday parties. Make one more call to someone you haven’t seen. Find out how everyone’s family members are doing. In our office this past year, we have had a series of teleconferences discussing different elements of diver- sity and leadership. Discussions were personal at times, but everyone had an opportunity to share. As you’ll see below, we really must connect to keep our teams resilient. How highly do you rate your team’s competence ? Do team members have the capacity and skills they need to meet demands, particularly during times of crisis and high stress? Think now about how to build these skills. Training is essential; taking the time for it is a dif- ficult choice, but one that pays off over the longer term. Beth Payne reminds us to take time to “sharpen the saw.” If we don’t do that, we will hamper productiv- ity in the longer term. Identify what skills your team mem- bers lack. If they are teleworking—and, thus, saving commuting hours—it may be the perfect time for them to work on those areas. I am fortunate to oversee my bureau’s learning and development group. That team fosters participation in governmentwide programs, State Department exchanges and detail opportunities, and also hosts periodic webinars on topics including “executive readiness”—all with an eye to building skills for the future. There is no doubt: We are in the busi- ness of making connections . I remind myself of that as often as I can, espe- cially when it comes to my own team. Again, it is important to make time for those virtual coffees now and get to know everyone, particularly those who have joined since the pandemic and you haven’t met in person. Check in on Microsoft Teams with people after a weekend. Share fun pet photos; take an extra moment to tell a story with a colleague and figure out now what you have in common. At the beginning of the COVID-induced shift to maximum telework, our office shared favorite recipes, sent lighthearted memes and celebrated future dream vacations we could all connect with. The members of an office with true commitment to each other and to a shared mission will keep their promises and protect teammates from harm, even when it is hard to do so. One of those areas we often associate with success- ful sports teams; this is no less relevant to our work teams. There are myriad ways to support one another with time, money or effort. Respect and loyalty should be there for all. Team members look out for each other, “have their Figure out how to do those holiday parties. Make one more call to someone you haven’t seen. Find out how everyone’s family members are doing.