Michael Johnson, director of advancement with the NDN Collective, is a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota and a relative of the White Earth Nation where his grandfather is a citizen. He leads NDN Collective’s Advancement work and team. Johnson’s work over the last decade has engaged key stakeholders in Indian Country and beyond to create lasting relationships built on respect, reciprocity, impact, and success across the Native nonprofit sector. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado Denver. He lives in Littleton, Colo., with his partner of 20 years and two children. Johnson’s mother, Susan, was an AISES Board Member in the early 1990s.

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are still learning to cope with the associated changes, both in their communities and in their workplaces. How can managers help employees during such difficult times? What is important for managers to keep in mind?

First let me say thank you to AISES for including my thoughts on this — it’s an honor to share.

While the global pandemic has changed how we approach work, management, and life balance, it is important to remember that management/supervision is one form of relationship. It’s also important to remember that we are all human, and we have all been dealing with a lot over the last couple of years. Our team at the NDN Collective has grown and launched new programs during the pandemic, but we have continued to center our relationships and do our best to create space for people to show up as people. I am proud that as a leadership team, we have prioritized our staff’s health and well-being, and we have been blessed to provide additional resources to support people over the last two years.

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