As working remotely continues for many, with no clear picture on when we will be able to return to a fully normal work schedule, it can be difficult to maintain our motivation and drive. Many groups of individuals including parents, immune compromised, etc, face the prospect of not being able to return to the workplace for some time due to responsibilities at home, as well as their own personal safety. But it's important to remember how vital you are to your customers, and that you are able to maintain "business as usual" to the extent that it is possible. To that end, we are sending along some thoughts and resources from various sources that we have compiled, on how to maintain your efficiency and productivity while working remotely.
Keeping your team motivated and engaged:
- Set clear expectations for both communication and productivity.
- Treat "remote" the same as you would being on-site by staying focused.
- Engage with your team regularly via phone and email, and video based check-ins/conferencing.
- Trust your team to do their jobs. Stay focused on goals, not activity.
- Make it feel inclusive through the use of zoom and other platforms - it's nice to see your team members in their remote environment so you still feel like you're together! This maintains a sense of community and support.
- Maintain your mission, values, and standards - don't fall into the trap of thinking you can let things go because of the increased difficulty of working remote.
- Make sure your team has reliable phones, computers, and access to online communication platforms.
- Make sure you have a clear communication strategy by keeping customers updated on your plans, and how they can get in touch with you and your team.
- Avoid multi-tasking. Stay focused on one thing at a time to avoid making errors because of distractions.
- Connect your teams' daily goals with yours, and make sure you are clear on priorities. Have a twice-weekly morning meeting to make sure you're staying on track.
Tips for keeping yourself on track:
- Maintain a daily schedule. Set your alarm and keep a daily routine. Not keeping a routine will make working remote feel chaotic and disorganized.
- Start with a daily checklist each morning and stick to it.
- Create a remote workspace that gives you peace, and a place to focus away from distractions.
Remember that Smart Choice is working for YOU! Contact your State Director, Territory Manager or home office staff if we can be of assistance during this unprecedented and challenging time.
The Commercial Advantage: Expand Your Book of Business
There’s no doubt about it: the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business. It’s likely most of your commercial customers are struggling. You yourself may be fighting to keep your agency afloat. It may even be tempting to press pause on communicating with your commercial customers and wait out the pandemic — but I strongly encourage you to fight that impulse. Taking action now will put you miles ahead of your competition once the crisis subsides. Check out the 2020 Issue 3 of Smart Choice Magazine for tips on how.