COVID-19 RESPONSE | JOINING THE REMOTE WORK FORCE
March 13, 2020
We’ve all seen the headlines about event cancellations, school closures, #emptyplanes, and where the market is heading.
If you’ve been living under a rock, here’s what is happening in a nutshell: The world is going remote (like us).
As companies consider moving to remote environments, you may be wondering how to make it all work. How will this affect my to-do list? What about meetings? Will I have what I need to get through the day?
Remote work has often been viewed negatively because of its ability to isolate individuals. With “isolation” a major topic in the news surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, it’s becoming preferred that we distance ourselves from the workplace and find ways to be productive elsewhere. In fact, the 4.7 million remote employees in the U.S. would say that this is now the better way to work. And to stay healthy in the wake of public health concerns.
So how do you move your work into a remote setting? With a cloud-based business model and a distributed workforce through the country, our unique experience with this type of work environment is helping us stay focused and efficient during this time.
These are 3 ways to stay positive and be productive in remote work environments:
Leverage technology for productivity and accountability
We utilize project management software and virtual meetings to build accountability and trust among our team. Platforms like Basecamp, Asana, and Trello, can be used to drive project-based productivity across the company with live progress reporting and chat systems. Quickly access files from anywhere with cloud-based organization tools like Dropbox.
Even in the social media world, while live events are being brought to a halt, using scheduling platforms like Hootsuite (our choice) allows for stress-free content building.
Holding virtual meetings via platforms like Zoom and GoToMeeting are critical ways to get everyone in the room and working. And if you’re looking for a creative way to host those after hours events you’ll be missing while you’re out of the office, round out your Friday with a virtual gathering and share wins from the week.
Oh and – buttoning up that “meeting that could have been in an email” for everyone’s sake is also helpful.
Find a space away from distractions
Did your local school district shut down your school? Is your roommate or significant other also quarantined from the office? In the case of COVID-19, isolation is your friend. You’ll need to find environments away from distractions that will help keep you safe from potential infection, as well as the nuances of having kids at home indefinitely. This will increase productivity and maximize your workflow as you settle into the new environment.
- Set up a space that works. This is probably not the living room or the dining room table, if you have family around. Seclude yourself, grab some noise-canceling headphones, and keep your space tidy and well-lit. Our article on remote work also has some tips and tricks on working from home, like breaking up your day.
- Monitor your coworking and flexible office spaces. Chances are, your local coworking space is doubling down on their cleaning services and monitoring the health of its employees, members, guests, and anyone else entering their shared space. This may prove to be a great option for those without a dedicated space at home. Stay up to date with information from flexible office environments if you’re needing a place to hunker down. (And if you’re in Atlanta, our coworking space is still open!)
Get creative with engagement
Boosting morale and remaining positive in a time like this is crucial to the well being of your company and its employees. As live events begin canceling around the world – affecting relationships, revenue, and more – it’s up to you to stay steady and continue making an impact in the workplace.
Here are some ways we are getting creative that may help get you started:
- Host a virtual happy hour with your team
- Gather online to show support for your teammates, celebrate together, and rise up against the stigma of isolation
- Set up a “trade show booth” online that gives prospective business unique access to your people and services
- Leverage social media
- Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are already popular enough in today’s workplace, but utilizing this critical asset will help you continue business as usual.
- Limit those face-to-face meetings
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