COVID-19: How to keep your team united while you implement work-from-home policy?

The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected all the fields of business and employment. Considering the safety of the employees, all the companies have decided to implement the work-from-home policy. Many companies have been working remotely since the beginning but for most of the companies, this policy is new and challenging. During this critical medical condition, the leader of the companies has an important and increased responsibility.

All the employees and the employers have to fulfill the basic responsibility towards society first, that is to stay safe and keep society safe.  Here are a few necessary steps everyone should practice: These steps are very helpful in preventing the rapidly growing COVID-19:
 ·      Maintain social distance
 ·      Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
 ·      Practicing respiratory hygiene
 ·      Consulting doctor immediately on observing symptoms like cough, fever or breathing difficulties
·      Frequently washing hands with sanitizers

Working in an atmosphere different from the office can be discomforting to some employees and a luxury to others. Leaders are constantly thinking about how to improve team productivity and improve the time efficiency of the employees and still hold the team accountable. There is nothing to worry about.  By following some simple steps we can all work unitedly and be productive too.

The world is connected with the help of various technical tools. By utilizing the advancing technology we can follow the remote work from home policy. Before sending the employees to work remotely, the leaders must design a well-balanced plan and strategies with minimal or no obstacles.

The main objectives of any company during this crucial time must be as follows:
·      Staying safe
·      Implementing a proper work plan
·      To improve team productivity
·      Minimizing the cost of resources
·      To improve the time efficiency of the employees
·      Staying connected
·      Working unitedly to achieve the goals and targets

With most families being quarantined, employees under remote work from home policy experience more distractions when compared to working at the office. Along with distractions, the fear of the disease and anxiousness about safety and health may be fretting the employees. This may affect their productivity and efficiency. Hence the employers have to be mindful of how they can communicate and work with the employees.

Not only employers but employees must also take up their responsibilities seriously. Instead of finding quarantine a chance to enjoy with family or relax the whole time, being responsible employees, everyone should put in more effort to work unitedly, make the best use of their time and be more productive. Achieving the goals should not be the objective of the employer alone but the whole team.

How to implement work from home policy?

Given below are a few important steps which can help you implement work from home more effectively.

1. Keeping your team or employees updated

A consistent and transparent communication will promote the success of the team. You must ensure that there are multiple ways through which you can communicate with each other. Taking complete use of emails, chatting software and applications, text messaging apps can make communication easier and better.

2. Getting Everyone on Video conferences

There are multiple video conferencing tools available on the internet today. All of which serve the same purpose of better communication. Utilizing tools such as Zoom or Google Hangouts can serve the purpose of having clear and transparent communication. Frequent video conferencing can help in building the gaps and encouraging each other to work together. Fix schedules to come online and report the progress of work and discuss the changes.

3. Lead your team by narrating a good example of remote work set-up

During conversations mentioning the challenges at home-office, providing solutions to the problems and encouraging your team members to keep up their good work will develop team harmony.

4. Avoiding Micromanage procedure

Companies that are used to working in a traditional office atmosphere may face some difficulties. Leaders may frequently feel an urge to check on their employees as they used to do at the office.  When your employees are working from home, trust their capability and work culture. Micromanaging even in this situation may create a sense of distrust in an employee.

5. Practice friendly interactions

Apart from fixing virtual schedules to discuss work-related topics, fix schedules to just chat with the employees and team members just like the way you chat at the office during coffee breaks.

6. Receive feedback from employees

Talk to your employees and get their feedback on how they are feeling about this new work set up. Their feedback may help you to learn the difficulties and also think about resolving them.

7. Cater to the needs of your employees

Office can be a well-equipped environment to work in. But when employees are working at home, they may have certain needs. Maybe a device to work, internet facility or access to certain software. As a leader, one must be paying attention to the needs of the employee even if they are away from the office.

8. Implementing work flexibility

Due to unfavorable working conditions, employees may face difficulties in carrying out their work efficiently. A leader can implement certain work flexibilities which will enhance their productivity and efficiency.

Some of them may include:

·      Flexible shift timings
·      Job sharing
·      Compressed work-week

9. Help your employees to practice multitasking

Multitasking can help the employees to manage their work and family in a better way. Boosting their confidence and also monitoring their situations at home can give you an idea of how to bring out the best in them.

10. Lastly, praise them

Praise your employees for doing their best,  fulfilling their responsibilities towards the company, completing the work given to them and being available for each other.

By following these 10 simple steps, one can keep the team united and get the best out of them. Along with keeping the employees safe, a leader will successfully improve team productivity and also improve the time efficiency of every team member. 

Stay Home and Stay Safe…!!!

Penned By: Yashaswini  Kudachi