So, you’ve sent your employees home. IT got the computers out and, hopefully, some good documentation on how to get to files and systems. And you’ve switched your executive meetings to Zoom video conferences.
Now what? How do you ensure maximum productivity and continue to delight your customers?
Here are some quick tips for leading in the new, remote environment. I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments.
- Have every employee report to their manager, at least weekly (many companies are daily), with a brief email that lists his or her achievements, upcoming goals, and any obstacles that may be in the way. Then, it’s then up to managers to remove obstacles and keep people productive.
- Make sure every manager has at least a weekly, if not daily, video conferences with their team. It’s important to keep people engaged. Share funny stories about telecommuting. Let people laugh – just like they do in the office. And, keep people focused on business goals, too.
- Ask IT to provide tips to the employees on how to manage their clogged Internet connections. They can include things like, use your phone instead of computer audio on those video conferences. Or ask the kids to pause the movie they’re streaming while you’re video conferencing with an important client.
- If you’re an executive, engage your team in discussions about how we will emerge stronger when this incident is over. What can our team do to improve customer satisfaction, the supply chain, order processing, etc.? The current environment has exposed opportunities for improvement. Now is the time to start acting on them.
- If you’re a CEO, work with your leadership team and board to start shaping a new strategy. We’re about to end the first quarter. There are still three quarters to go. There’s plenty of time to adjust, or redefine, your strategy to emerge stronger during the upcoming recovery.
These are just a few tips to help you succeed in this strange, new environment. Please share your tips, experiences and thoughts so we all emerge stronger!
Larry Wolff is the founder & CEO of Wolff Strategy Partners, a boutique consulting firm specializing in Enterprise Strategy Management, Digital Transformation, IT Leadership, and Executive Coaching. Larry has served as CEO, COO, CIO, Chief Digital Officer, and management consultant for public, private, international, and emerging growth companies. His specialties include corporate and IT strategic planning, technology led business transformation, business and IT turnarounds, merger integration and large-scale project rescues. His methodologies span industries and scale to companies of all sizes.