Mar 30, 2020
More workplaces are moving to working remotely but have not put in place a collaborative and effective plan to make it a productive environment to work. Below is an outline of principles to incorporate among colleagues and clients to create a productive workplace.
Principles with Colleagues
- Process is Critical
Start and end the days with team meetings to evaluate workload, deadlines, challenges, if assistance is required and check everyone’s mindset. Also, end each meeting on a good note with a highlight whether that be a work achievement or something personal to keep morale high. Prior to meetings remember to schedule and confirm times, share log in details, agenda and log in a few minutes early to ensure everything is in working order.
- Include Everyone
Working from home can prove difficult be it through poor network connectivity or others at home distracting you, as a result, meetings may be joined late or even missed. Remember to not wait for them and get the meeting running but do include notes via video conferencing programs or email so everyone is included. If people do not feel included it can be demotivating and devaluing.
- Straight to the Point
Be direct with short and sharp communication to avoid confusion and continue momentum going if a group chat is occurring. Remember to continually ask if everyone understands and don’t move on until done so. Try to normalise direct questions, comments and feedback as the workplace is now asynchronous. Respond with positive intent as tone of voice and non-verbal cues can be lost in translation when working remotely.
Principles with Clients
- Stay in Touch
Keeping up to date with regular messages, phone calls and videos are key to maintaining a good relationship to show you care and that they’re valued. When sending out information to clients remember to make it as informative and visually appealing for them to easily absorb the information and make your content memorable.
- Outline, Expand, Repeat
Begin meetings with small talk to create a comfortable atmosphere, set the meeting up with an outline of what to discuss, expand on the topics, write notes and repeat actions to remind everyone. Sharing ideas once does not mean your clients have remembered. Therefore, by outlining, expanding and repeating clients will retain the information better.
- Add Value
Ensure you are the best choice for your clients by actioning what you say, delivering results efficiently and using initiative to wow them by going above and beyond. Make them feel like a priority and even think about sending virtual cards for birthdays to add that extra value.
