Let’s face it; COVID-19 is completely changing the landscape of how we work. Among all the other drastic changes we’re facing in our lives, the way we do our jobs is just one of these. With so many businesses moving to remote operations, employers and employees alike are faced with new challenges.
For the first time, many employees are working from home. While not a bad thing in itself, it comes with its fair share of difficulties. It can challenge the productivity levels of even the most dedicated office worker, and communication can take a hit. We’re so used to seeing our managers and coworkers every day in a close-knit setting that the distance starts to take a toll on the way we work as a team.
With the ability to leave the house severely limited, the isolation of working from home can start to wear on employees. Humans are social by nature, and while work is just one place where we experience social interactions, the distancing measures necessitated by COVID-19 are forcing us to stay away from most social settings. Employees may experience a sense of loneliness, which adversely impacts engagement and, ultimately, productivity.
So how can employers make sure that their employees feel connected to the organization and appreciated by management? A straightforward solution is the check-in.
The Purpose of the Check-In
The workplace check-in can be done both in-person and remotely. For face-to-face check-ins at the office, the employee and manager simply meet in person, preferably in a neutral location that fosters a sense of collaboration. A remote check-in, meanwhile, is simply the same act of touching base, often leveraging a technology to improve the experience.
At its core, the check-in process formally connects employees with their managers to reinforce defined expectations and keep initiatives that drive profitability for the company on track while also relating them to information that will help them do their best work. Candidly, if managers are not used to collaborating with their team members regularly, it’s probably gut-check time on owning the principles of “Management 101”.
At first, remote collaboration may take some getting used to, so both managers and employees should anticipate spending some extra time to develop a comfortable cadence. With the plethora of digital communication tools used today to facilitate communication with friends, family, and team members, it should not be surprising for both managers and employees if the transition to remote collaboration is less painful than one might imagine.
Check-In Methods
Email is a staple of communication in the workplace. But in this age of social distancing, email alone may no longer be enough. Fortunately, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to connecting in the modern era. We can choose between text, instant messaging, email, voice calling, and of course, video conferencing.
Where possible, video conferencing is the way to go. The benefits of video interaction really can’t be overstated. While we’re more familiar – and perhaps more comfortable – with texting or speaking over the phone, video chat is indispensable for check-ins. It allows us to read our team members’ verbal and non-verbal signals as if we were in the room with them. Plus, during this period of isolation, it helps to see a friendly face now and again.
Use professional conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, BlueJeans, and Cisco WebEx, to name a few. Most modern communication platforms support text chat as well as video, giving you a more nuanced, personalized connection.
The Benefits
Communication is more important now than ever. Whether it’s between employers and managers, managers and employees, or between coworkers, maintaining a bond with the team will help everyone stay engaged. And staying connected will help employees feel informed, valued, and involved with the company.
Check-ins don’t have to be focused strictly on business. With this in mind, the basic structure and tools used for formal check-ins can be used to facilitate informal meet-ups, like group coffee chats, or happy-hour get-togethers. Think of it as a break around the water cooler, and you’re on the right track. At times like these, it helps to have people around us who understand and share our concerns. When you’re feeling anxious and stressed, you’re probably not going to do your best work. That’s why small, remote, social get-togethers are a great opportunity to decompress.
If you or your employees are struggling to adapt to the new work-from-home lifestyle, consider using the check-in. There are plenty of benefits for everyone involved, both personal and professional. Talk to your managers and employees to see how you can best implement this strategy for your own business. Now, more than ever, we need to stick together, and check-ins can be the connecting fiber that keeps us on track.
To learn more about how technology helps you stay connected to your team, reach out today.