Now is the time to review the way you and your teams are working remotely!
Over a year has passed since most of us were plunged into new work-from-home (WFH) arrangements without much of a warning. For some, it may have felt a bit like being unexpectedly pushed into a frigid mountain lake.
By now you have probably created a manageable (dare I say productive?) WFH environment for yourself as well as some workable systems and new processes for your team. Everyone is treading water, head above the water line. You may even have adjusted to the temperature. The pool doesn’t feel nearly as cold!
As you have adjusted and adapted to your unexpected situation, new “workplace” activities have taken hold. You and your direct reports are likely:
- Communicating regularly via email, Zoom (or another meeting platform), text, and the old-fashioned way – by telephone.
- Holding weekly team or project meetings that include check-in’s on mental and physical health along with updates on workflows and projects.
- Scheduling weekly (or maybe even daily) one-on-ones to review performance and provide ongoing feedback.
- Demonstrating appreciation and gratitude during this difficult time and making time for celebrating specific milestones – or for no reason at all.
- Wondering when life will return to “normal” and what will happen when it does.
So, it seems like the initial kinks have been worked out and everything is running smoothly. No reason this “new normal” can’t continue for the rest of 2020. Right? Not so fast….
We have gotten used to this new environment. And it’s possible that most of your colleagues made it work during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is no guarantee what worked then is what’s needed now. After all, we can only tread water for so long.
With many companies implementing WFH plans through the summer or even indefinitely, it’s time to revisit the way your virtual team can best work together through the remainder of 2020. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your team members as you re-visit this topic and possibly revise what you are doing:
- How often do we need to meet – individually and as a team?
- What’s the best way to connect?
- How clear are our responsibilities?
- What kind of support – technology, work-related, emotional – is still critical?
- What has been working well?
- Do we understand our role and the part that we play on the team now
- What hasn’t been working well?
- What is needed going forward?
Now is a good time to reflect on the past and revisit what has worked and what hasn’t, much like the “Start, Stop, Continue” model. Ensure that everyone on the team gets to weigh-in and voice their opinions. Then, it’s time to tweak, and possibly revise, those areas needing attention. Make changes, implement new ways of communicating, keep what’s working and ditch what’s not.
Reflect. Revisit. Revise. And don’t forget to repeat the process should your team still be working from home in the fall. They will thank you. And, you will be ready to swim laps around your competition!
