Across the country and around the world, businesses are facing challenges on two fronts. On the left, we’re fighting a global pandemic and concerns of our personal health and the health of our family, friends, and team. On the right, we’re facing economic uncertainty that, in many ways, dwarfs the 2008 recession. And in the middle of these challenges? The need to work remotely.
Right when we would love to have our team together to communicate and inspire, more than half the country is under strict stay-at-home orders that have moved many businesses to working exclusively from home. Some firms are more prepared than others to adapt; they have the right technology, sure, but they also have the right systems. The companies that are handling working from home the most efficiently as those who have provided their teams with the tools to be productive and included the expectations and processes to keep workers connected.
Our team often works across the city and even across the country. We also work with clients remotely, and in the process of our coaching, we’ve learned plenty of things that help great leaders take their reassuring physical and vocal presence and bring it into digital interactions.
Set The Tone, And Make It A Positive One. As a leader, you set the tone. The very first line in that morning email or morning video conference can put the conversation on a particular and track, and that can influence your team’s entire day. We always need to be aware of just how important our tone is on the moral and energy level of the team. That’s even more important in a digital interaction, which may make it harder to read the emotions and intent of a writer or speaker. If you’re being positive, be extra positive. Now is the time to lift up your team and make their time on the clock, even at home, a bright spot in their day.
Overcommunicate. Now is the time for check-ins, follow-ups, and clear, effective communication. It’s not so much that teams are distracted or not working hard. Often, working in a new environment or potentially on a new schedule changes the normal day-to-day habits that we all create for ourselves. By making an effort to be clear, positive, and supportive, we help our team stay on top of tasks and gather all the information they need to get it done. Just be sure to limit communication within set working hours and respect off-work hours.
Don’t Leave People Out. Working at home means we also lose the ability to quickly and easily bring people together. Instead of calling for a quick huddle in the conference room, it may be easier to shoot a message to someone working on a project. Take extra care to include everyone involved on certain tasks and projects, especially that project’s manager. No one wants to feel cut out of communication or the process, and it can also lead to miscommunication or redundant calls and emails. When we are apart, that’s exactly when we need to invest energy to bring people together.
Have Fun, Too. Offices are social places, too. With so many workers spending long hours at home both on the clock and off, we’re all struggling with the lack of those fun, spontaneous interactions with co-workers that make the day more interesting. It’s okay to have a ‘fun’ channel on Slack where people can tell jokes, share how they’re doing, and stay connected as people and friends, not just co-workers. We’ve even joined in with video lunches, with teams having a thirty-minute lunch together, showing off what they cooked along a specific theme, what they’re listening to while they work, and just enjoying each other’s company.
The key takeaway is that, as a leader, you have a responsibility to put people in a position to succeed. Right now, that includes protecting and supporting the mental health of your company and prioritizing their humanity alongside their deadlines, their hope alongside their project report.
Ready to learn more? Contact us for more ways to keep your business forward during these challenging times.