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Right now, you may be part of a locally remote team, or you may be part of a remote team that’s spread across the country. Regardless, the challenge of recreating something that truly makes a team click—collaboration—is prevalent no matter where you are or what time it is, given these challenging circumstances.
Humans want to feel connected, which holds true whether we’re at home, at work, or in a social setting. And while connection may be difficult right now, it’s not impossible. Introducing (and then practicing) certain habits can bring teams closer together even if they’re thousands of miles apart, and the end result is a team that’s happier, more engaged, and more productive.
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Maybe you hadn’t heard of Zoom prior to the last month (you’re not alone).
Well, it’s no longer a noun. It’s a verb. According to reports, the tech video conferencing company has seen a 535% increase in daily traffic since March 1.
This is part of a seismic shift that’s impacted work in a short period of time.
“When we’re isolated, the first thing that drops off is the feeling of connectedness, and the easiest way to combat that is through a video call,” said Richard Stange, CPLP®️, National Learning and Development Manager for The HON Company. “At the end of the day, some companies are going to come out of this a lot stronger because they’re leveraging tech in a whole new way.”
And when it comes to technology, it doesn’t have to be all “business,” all the time. Around the world, teams are coming together on video calls to celebrate milestones and birthdays, and are even holding weekly happy hours to stay together.
The way we communicate has also been transformed.
Communication is now almost strictly electronic, and the influx of emails, Google chats, and Slack messages has inundated many of us. There’s almost too much communication, which makes managing those tools and streamlining communication a critical component to collaboration.
“One thing we notice a lot in these initial transitions is that inboxes get flooded,” Stange said. “We need to set simple reminders about our communications and our technology to keep us aligned. Part of it is managing through the nuances of all the platforms, but it’s also about how to get in these tools and use them to best help your team.”
Knowing all this, how can managers control communication and establish a more connected process?
“It’s important to understand what works for your team,” said Page Althoff, MCR Manager for The HON Company. “It might not work for everyone to utilize a certain technology. The question we should be asking is: ‘What helps us the most and makes us the most efficient?’”
Our experts agree: It’s easy to get out of sync and difficult to get back in sync, especially as technology tempts us with distraction. One way to streamline and organize your communication is to be flexible, and find ways to integrate different aspects of communication methods that fit your team.
“This is a different time, and we’re all figuring out how we’re going to navigate through it together,” Althoff said.
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In the last few years, companies around the world have made a concerted effort to increase investment in workplace wellness programs. That’s because employees, whether in polls or surveys conducted both internally and externally, say they want these resources available to them.
Now we’re facing an entirely new situation. In the office, many chairs, desks, and common spaces are designed with wellness in mind, from materials to ergonomics to colors. At home, we’ve (in most cases) chosen products based on how they look, feel, and function in our home lives—and those spaces have now become our offices.
To be successful, we have to make the best of our current situation while making smart adjustments to our habits that can promote wellness.
“In an ideal world, we’d get a nice new office chair, a desk, monitor arms, and whatever we need to be comfortable and healthy,” Stange said. “Obviously, it’s not as feasible as it would have been a couple of months ago.”
From an ergonomics perspective, working on the couch probably isn’t the ideal place to work (we encourage it for relaxing). But it is important to find a workspace that allows you to get up and move around throughout the day, sit down for a bit, and then stand for a quick stretch.
When we’re at home, it’s almost impossible to get laptop keyboards and monitors at the correct ergonomic height. If you’re able to get an external monitor or a keyboard from the office, those can be propped up into a better position.
Chairs are important, too. If you have options at home, we recommend a chair that can move with you—and adjustable height is a bonus.
“The workspace has a huge impact on your productivity,” Althoff said. “You’ll be more effective and do what you need to get done each day. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Whatever it looks like, it’s YOUR space. And it helps to know that’s where you’re going to get your work done.”
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Empathy and understanding matter for both leaders and employees, as it helps bring us closer together and feel connected.
If the kids are running around the room making noise on the video call, bring them on to say hello. Have a drink with your team to celebrate the end of a work week. Check in with people to see how they’re doing. These things all matter.
“We have to remember that we’re humans,” Stange said. “Are you taking care of yourself? Is there balance in your day? It’s so easy to start plugging away and work longer than we usually would if we were in the office.
“There are no commutes, there are no lunch breaks. Everything is so condensed right now. We have to remember, whether we’re leaders or workers, to be humans first.”
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