At the beginning of March, COVID-19 was still a distant phenomenon, but now it affects us all. It affects our daily life and the way we work (with each other). Worldwide. Everyone is facing the same challenge, but at the same time everyone is dealing with the pandemic differently. That is why it is worth looking beyond the horizon. Especially our colleagues from Great Place to Work® America were busy giving tips and tricks during COVID-19. We've reviewed these tips and summarized the most valuable ones for you.
Offering emotional support
Although everyone is affected by the pandemic, each person reacts differently to the new working conditions. Accordingly, the new situation is dealt with differently - what is relaxing for some is a heavy psychological burden for others. Employees can support each other emotionally - with five things:
- forgiveness instead of confrontation
- make check-ins
- practice mindfulness
- be more grateful
- reminding each other to take care of themselves
The original article with detailed descriptions can be found here.
Virtual communication done right
Tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Slack have proven that communication works despite the home office. However, approaches for the right application are often missing. Of course, the private exchange and the grapevine should still take place - after all, we don't always want to talk about business matters. However, it is important to be lenient with the technically less experienced users. Not everyone is on the same level - and that should (at least in the beginning) be okay. Likewise, despite the lack of proximity, one should not refrain from small talk. A "Good morning" is a much more pleasant introduction than "What I wanted to discuss with you...". Also, turn on the video - this creates more face-to-face closeness than just audio. There should also be enough space for non-business meetings, such as coffee breaks, yoga or sports sessions. We found these tips here.
Dealing with pressure to perform
Just because employees are in the home office does not mean that they automatically no longer take responsibility for their performance. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Often the changeover and the structural change make it difficult to achieve the performance targets that employees set themselves. People quickly start to question themselves if they have not performed as well as they usually do. Often with the fear of being seen by others (especially superiors) as a slacker. Accordingly, the expectations of others (especially superiors) should be clarified. What are the goals that employees should achieve - regardless of their presence? A further point is the equipment of hardware and software for employees in the home office. After all, what is more frustrating than wanting to work but not having the right tools to do so? This naturally includes knowing how to access internal databases from outside. These tips are described in more detail here.
