As we enter a period of renewal and change, Your Clear Next Step is committed to helping our customers make their businesses and workdays even better. We will be here to walk beside you, to listen, to connect, and to aid in your search for clarity. In doing so, we are offering a free, daily Zoom call, called Daily Connections, at 1:15pm (CDT) every weekday from 3/19/2020-5/1/2020.
These calls are a chance for us to share tips and discussion about relevant topics (working remotely, maintaining consistency in uncertain times, building relationships across geography, staying motivated, staying connected, etc) and network with each other to provide help and support during this time of change.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us today! The next call will be Friday, March 20th at 1:15pm (CDT). Click here to join.
On today's call...
Sinikka shared a few tips about communication.
- Communicate how you are feeling – it may help you be able to process and move past your emotions
- Communicate what you are working on – others don’t know in the same way they used to, and we don’t want stuff to get overlooked, forgotten, or duplicated
- Communicate patiently –communication will take longer now than it did when we sat next to each other, be patient with that., and be sure to test the tech because the communication channels don’t always all work the same way
Here were some ideas and questions tossed out and answered by group
- Virtual coffee chats with colleagues are ways to build relationships even if you’re not in the same space. Grab a cup of coffee and connect virtually for 5-10 minutes, just as you would in face-to-face in the office.
- Virtual happy hours at the end of the day are another great way to connect us socially on more fun topics
- “We’re working on it” isn’t specific enough – communications today need to be concise and specific
- Use different communication channels for different purposes and different audiences
- Some workplaces are using rotating shifts so some employees are in the office some days and others are in the office other days
- Point of caution: Those who are in the office will have hallway conversations, that those not in the office will miss out.
- Designate a whiteboard or sticky flip chart as the “hallway conversations” board
- Make sure each person has the accountability to put their conversation highlights/decisions on the board as soon as the hallway conversation happens.
- Assign a person to publish the updates to everyone on a regular basis.
- Point of caution: Continue to be diligent about disinfecting and managing germ spread if anyone at all is in the office.
- Question for the group: Because of the changes to where we are working, we will be having weekly virtual team meetings, which is something we've never done before – tips…?
- Before a new group has a virtual meeting, have everyone watch “A Conference Call in Real Life with Tripp and Tyler”
- If no - watch it here.
- If yes - watch it here. We can all use a refresher from time to time.
- Agree to group norms as a group – mute mics, show up dressed, wave if you need to speak, use chat functions appropriately, have a designated facilitator
- Make sure every group meeting has a purpose and an agenda
- Have a shared document of some sort that captures decisions/notes/discussion so we all know what happened at the meeting
- Try Marco Polo for video chats – with colleagues, and even grandparents and family
- Set up a group text, or IM chat designated specifically for levity – something fun
- Use the phrase “physical distancing” instead of “social distancing”
- Take good care of those who speak the language of quality time (email doesn’t do it, phone call is better, video chat is better yet, face to face when possible), and those who speak physical touch (isolation will be really hard for them – do virtual high five’s, use language like “Sending you a hug”, etc. so they hear you speaking their language, even if they can’t feel it.
- There are some folks who have long awaited a chance to work alone, uninterrupted, from a solitary space – if you’re not sure how you’re going to make it through, check in with one of them.
