The coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of daily life. And, unfortunately, the current state of lockdown could become the new normal for the foreseeable future for many professionals.
On a positive note, it is possible to maintain strong lines of business communication despite stay-at-home orders. To that end, here are four tips business leaders can use to ensure that everyone on their team is on the same page during this difficult period:
Invest in New Tech
COVID-19 isn’t going to last for a few weeks, or even a few months. There’s a possibility (no matter how remote) that social distancing measures may need to remain in place for several years. As such, if your business is lacking key communications tech like unified call solutions, Hosted VoIP phones, or other telecommunications services, now is the time to invest in them. What’s more, these tech upgrades can provide meaningful ROI and help your business improve performance and save money in the long run.
Develop a Routine
No one is accustomed to the current social distancing measures. It’s easy to see why plenty of dedicated professionals may struggle to adapt to the situation and work from home full time. As a business leader, it’s your job to help everyone handle this current challenge. One way you can help people stay on the same wavelength is to hold regular meetings at specific times. Pick a time or two during the week to have a quick chat with your entire team. Or, you could even set up individual meetings with employees to touch base with them as well.
Prioritize
If your business is quickly transitioning to a completely new, remote setup, then –– odds are –– some things are going to fall through the cracks. Just make sure nothing truly important goes by the wayside because of the coronavirus. Prioritize your team’s most essential tasks and focus on completing them first and foremost. This will prevent your team from holding unnecessary meetings to review small matters that don’t really affect your business.
Encourage Chatter
Remote employees may not feel comfortable sending emails, video messages, or texts as they would be simply talking to a coworker in person. Yet, if your team isn’t talking to each other, problems are sure to arise as a result. That’s why business leaders need to encourage constant collaboration between remote team members. You can do this in part by setting a good example yourself, but you need to emphasize the importance of communication to your staff. Consider asking if there are any steps you can take to make it easier for them to get in touch. The more your team members chat with each other, the less you have to worry about.