Do you feel like being a leader has gotten harder since your staff started working from home? Well, you’re not alone. It has gotten harder, but you can lead and communicate effectively with remote staff and co-workers. This top ten list has some great ideas on how to do just that:
- Keep your staff feeling connected with informal daily or weekly check-ins via phone or video call.
- Install chat software like Microsoft Teams for urgent or quick questions and real-time interaction.
- Understand that not everyone likes to communicate in the same way; get to know your staff’s preferences and let them know yours.
- Survey your staff to better understand needs and challenges. Share the results and create action plans to address concerns.
- Help staff understand the priorities for the business, department and team—as well as “work from home” expectations.
- Have some fun! Workplace is a great tool for sharing photos, videos, surveys and contests. Schedule a virtual lunch or happy hour where work talk is off limits. Create a team favorites playlist that can be added to weekly.
- Be empathetic. Know that not everyone has fully embraced this new work environment and there may still be adjustments for some. (Especially those with children.) Stress and anxiety may be high.
- Know that there will be bad days and challenges, and that’s okay. Let your staff know, “We’re all in this together.”
- Send staff members a note of encouragement or thanks via email or send a handwritten note.
- Celebrate team achievements and share company news via your company’s intranet or internal social platform.
These tips can help staff members feel less isolated and anxious—and feel more connected with what is going on with their department and the company. Effective communication can lead to higher levels of engagement and employee satisfaction—which leads to more productive employees. Implementing just a few of these tips can have a big impact.
Contact Phil Marchant or Bryce Gardner at 877.544.1581 or sales@allwest.com for all your internet and phone needs.