Like many businesses, my staff has been working temporarily from home since March due to COVID-19. Although they have done a superb job adjusting, the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic has prompted my decision to go remote indefinitely. This decision has caused some concern. Any tips I can share to help transition my team to yet another “new” normal?
Working daily face-to-face in a collegial office environment and then suddenly having to pivot to a work-from-home model—even temporarily—can be challenging. However, asking your team to shift yet again in such a relatively short time to work from home indefinitely can understandably be concerning for your employees as well as clientele. Here are a few transitional tips to help you and your team through the epicenter of this new business model:
communicate with honesty and openness
Contact clients to apprise them that the business has transitioned to a work-from-home model. Let them know your team will continue to provide them with great service, and explain any changes in communications strategy and that their needs will be met proactively.
continue to zoom with your team and clients
Consider daily Zoom meetings with employees and weekly virtual meetings with clients. If need be, continue videoconferencing and phone conversations to keep staff connected throughout the day. Don’t rely only on email, chat or texting. It’s important to interact in real time to maintain employee and client relationships. Think about starting and ending your day with a non-business virtual face-to-face staff meeting, which might be a fun way to further bond with colleagues.
encourage your team to think creatively
As in any crisis, but particularly with COVID-19 and the ongoing societal unrest, it is paramount to be sensitive in transitioning to new strategies to address customer and employee needs with a strong emphasis on safety and empathy. That said, this pandemic and the strife in the community is reshaping the economic landscape; it is essential to encourage your team to look for creative solutions and partnerships to navigate the future.
be flexible
Allow employees extra flexibility. As you know by now, many of your colleagues may be dealing with balancing their workload at home without the same support systems prior to COVID-19 such as daycare, schools, friends and their social lives. Some have small children who need to be homeschooled or are possibly caring for a sick parent or grandparent. If employees need time off to care for someone else, themselves or grieve the loss of a loved one, be prepared to support them. There is no HR policy that will fit everyone during this unusual period. Your empathy and sensitivity to individual employee circumstances will make all the difference in successfully moving forward.
Joan Lee Berkman is a marketing and public relations consultant. If you have a question for Joan, send it to business@townandstyle.com.