Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 many people are working from home, and some are having an easier time adapting than others. After all, for some employees this is uncharted territory, as this may be the first time they work in a space other than an office.
From the right tools to use to the key habits to foster, the following tips will show you how to help your employees, so that they can stay productive and level-headed while they work remotely.
Use the Right Tools
The first step is to make sure you have the adequate software to allow your team to work from home. With its many tools, Office 365 and Teams will allow your employees to collaborate remotely without sacrifying efficiency. On the other hand, the video chat Zoom is becoming so popular that it seems to be reaching pop celebrity. At www.openforbusiness.org/ you will find free tools that companies like Google, Adobe and Cisco are offering for free so than small businesses can be more efficient with their employees working from home.
Team-Building is More Important than Ever
Working remotely is an achievement of technology, but is far from perfect. Nothing beats person-to-person interaction and it’s important to come up with strategies to compensate for the lack of face time with your employees. Try to maintain morale and stay in constant contact with your team to exchange ideas and gauge their level of adaptation to the new habits. Encourage team members to interact remotely and support each other with an attitude of patience and understanding.
Encourage Key Habits
A good way to help your employees is suggesting them to develop habits that will allow them to adapt more easily to working from home. Dressing in a professional manner even when they’re not going to the office is a good way to mimic their usual daily routine and get into their “work mindset”. Also, establish daily check-ins with individuals and teams to ensure a steady flow of communication. This is another way of creating a set routine, which will help employees to find stability more easily.
Be Flexible With Employees
Keep in mind that we’re living unprecedented circumstances, therefore some flexibility is in order. These are trying times for everyone. Day cares may close, children come back from college, and other relatives may move in. Unique needs arise all of a sudden, so try to be understanding and adapt when possible to the needs of your employees. They’ll appreciate it and your effort will improve your team’s morale.
