Tech company Metageek said it well in their recent blog: “With the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world, working from home is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.”
Gone are the days when we could call our IT department to help us troubleshoot a tech issue, or restart or Wi-Fi. The resources we had at our disposal in the office have been transferred into our home. And the meetings, training and tasks we once completed in person or with a team, have gone virtual.
However, there are ways to adapt and continue using technology effectively and we want to look at three of these areas
1. Virtual Meetings
When it comes to virtual meetings, let’s start with the basics:
– Be aware of your surroundings when on a video call – think about what is behind you that others will see (example: a messy kitchen or a pile of laundry)
– Pay attention to the lighting and try to have it shine on your face, instead of coming in behind you
– Mute your microphone if there are a lot of people on the call – unmute when you want to speak
– Test our your tech equipment before the start of the meeting to ensure it’s functioning properly
– Use share screen features to allow others to see what you’re talking about
– Ensure everyone has the agenda ahead of time so they can be prepared
- Inclusion in Meetings
BetterEvaluation, a global evaluation practise organization, says inclusion also needs to be top of mind to keep everyone on the virtual call connected. Some ways to do this include designating someone to greet others as they log-on; identifying the speaker and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to communicate their ideas; and sharing polls for participants to complete during the meeting to encourage engagement.
3. Virtual Onboarding of Employees
When it comes to onboarding new employees, recruitment and consulting firm Artemis Canada suggests getting a bit creative:
– When sending out an employee’s welcome package, include something special for their family members
– Schedule group chats to introduce the newest member to the team
– Give the new employee a virtual tour of the office
– Have 1:1 virtual meetings as well as coffee dates
Although things have changed – drastically, in some instances – the above advice and resources show that we can adapt. And should a change as big as this arise again, we will be better equipped and prepared to tackle it.
Resources:
LinkedIn Pulse – Tips and Tricks for Teleworking and Remote Teams
BetterEvaluation – A Quick Primer on Running Online Events and Meetings
Fast Company – How to Onboard New Employees When You’re All Working From Home
Artemis Canada – Virtual Onboarding 101
