As the threat posed by Covid-19 is growing by the day, and social distancing measures are being introduced by governments all over the world, teams of workers from a range of different industries are being forced to work remotely from home.
There is a current mood of anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the threat of Coronavirus and exactly what it could or will mean for businesses and employees. But we do know that regular working patterns, working environments, and modes of communication are going to be considerably disrupted in the coming weeks and months.
However, remote working does not have to mean your team cannot work effectively and collaboratively, and companies across the world are looking at the different strategies that can be implemented to help maintain normal business.
Public Health Threat
This growing pandemic is one of the biggest public health threats for a generation, therefore, it is important that as a leader, you are proactive in how you can best protect and ensure that members of your team are safe.
The shift from the traditional office working environment to the home-based office has become an increasingly popular notion since the World Health Organisation announced the progression of Covid-19 into a pandemic. These social distancing measures are there to limit interaction between individuals and slow down and reduce the spread of the virus.
Normalise New Work Environments
If individuals and teams have not previously worked from home for extended periods, this initial change in the working environment will be unsettling for some. However, there is a range of different ways to normalise new work environments to ensure that usual productivity and momentum continues.
While the prospect of working from home can be appealing at first, there are many challenges that get in the way of productivity. For example, there are many more potential distractions created in the home that can make team members work less productively than usual, causing an overall reduction in company output and profitability. When members of a team are working remotely from different locations, it can also create the potential for misunderstandings.
Therefore, it is recommended that members of a team get to know each other’s new ways of working, including video calling and other tech alternatives. This will help the team to work collaboratively. Try to remember that they are still one team working towards the same outcomes, even if their locations are different. It will also help others to be more understanding of any background noise or limitations that others have to experience while working from home, especially when workers have children at home because of school closures.
Make the Most of Technology
Working from home has become an option for so many more people in modern-day society, thanks to the technological advancements that we all experience both professionally and personally. Therefore, we recommend that you consider every program and software solution out there to keep team members working together.
While you may already encourage collaborative working and communication through online platforms, now that your team is forced to work remotely as a consequence of Coronavirus, then it is even more essential for your team’s survival. Using mobile workforce management systems is a great way to manage, schedule, and track a workforce remotely while boosting productivity.
Schedule Regular Meetings
When working in a traditional office environment, you may start each day with a team meeting. Just because you are all now working from home, it doesn’t mean that a daily meeting can’t continue. The best tip we can give you now your team is working remotely is to keep communication between members regular. Working from home does not have to mean working alone, so regular meetings and contact through video calls are very important to foster inclusivity.
Long-Term Impact
While no one can know for sure how long the effects of Covid-19 are likely to force us into home offices and working remotely, it is important to stay prepared. You may want to take the time to look at your work calendar for the next few months and see what events and appointments you have scheduled in.
You should also consider that there may be positive consequences that come with working remotely. From the lower overheads of remote working to the abundance of communication methods, firms are being given the chance to rethink how teams and companies are managed in the 21st century. This may mean that we see an increase in flexible working policies post-Covid-19.
The outbreak and spread of the coronavirus is indisputably a worrying time globally, both on a personal and professional level, and with remote working now something businesses have to implement, it is essential to have policies in place to help to mitigate the risk that Covid-19 poses for businesses, teams, employees, and overall productivity.