Virtual EI (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

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Write Down Your Team’s Unwritten Rules

By Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy

Every workplace has unwritten rules. If you’re on a video call with 20 of your colleagues, is it okay to turn off your camera? When you email your boss, do you include a bunch of emojis?

During stressful times (such as a global pandemic), it’s good practice to write down the unstated cultural and emotional norms that exist within your team or company. They might have changed during Covid-19, or perhaps they’ve never been explicit to everyone. You might know that it’s okay to take a walk in the middle of the day to clear your head, but it might not be obvious to your colleagues, especially if they’re new hires. These seemingly small uncertainties (“Can I step outside ...