FOLLOWING ‘FREEDOM’ day on the 19th July, many offices have reopened their doors once again.

However, this will likely to be a daunting period of anxiety for many professionals, particularly those who have started a new role during lockdown and haven’t met their team in-person, or even those who have adjusted to communicating virtually and haven’t been in an office environment for over a year.

The Women’s Portfolio of courses by RADA Business works with professionals at all levels, from those in the early stages of their careers to top level executives, and includes Executive Presence for Women, Impact and Influence for Women and Stepping up with Confidence for Women. After completing a course, participants are then invited to join the Women’s Network, which, every year, hosts three creative and practical workshops alongside networking with senior women in business from a range of industries.

Specifically addressing concerns around returning to working in-person, RADA Business, the commercial arm of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, hosted a Women’s Network event on 9th July which equipped women with the skills and techniques to confidentially return to the office.

To help women who are feeling anxious about returning to work in-person and those who need to rebuild their confidence after a challenging year, Sheelagh McNamara and Lisa Åkesson, expert performance tutors at RADA Business who led the Women’s Network event, have shared their key insights and techniques.

To control your nerves and manage your state when returning to work in person, remember, ‘If in doubt, breathe out’. Activate your parasympathetic nervous system by breathing low, slow, and deep. You should aim to get to a state of 6 – 7 breaths per minute.

When readjusting yourself to communicate in a face-to-face meeting, make sure to be alert, but also relaxed. Give yourself the necessary space to function as well as you can and only go to meetings where you see you are truly adding value.

We have become used to only seeing people on screen so the adjustment to in person communication can be tough. We know people make an impression of you in the 10th second, so remember to use your whole self to take up space and embody credibility when you return to the office.

We have leant to focus our eyes on the ‘green light’ next to our computer cameras. When you are back in the office, remember to open up your peripheral vision, connect and make eye contact with your audience. Your eyes should move around the audience like a bumble bee does when pollinating flowers.

We need to think about what we have learnt over the past 18 months and take it back to the office to create positive change. Lockdown has reminded leaders about the importance of empathy and kindness. When returning to work, try to embody ‘empassertiveness’ (i.e. empathy coupled with assertiveness) when you communicate. Be credible and assertive as well as warm, empathetic and kind.
Alison Sutherland, Client Director at RADA Business, comments: “It’s wonderful to be able to host this event which supports women of all experience levels in their journey back to the office. We enable women to be the best version of themselves, by equipping them with the skills to communicate confidently and build greater resilience in a face-to-face environment.”

Rachael Taylor, member of the RADA Business Women’s Network, comments and responds to the value of the events: “It’s a really important check in…. it helps me lead my teams”.