Now that it’s been a month of working from home, most businesses have smoothed out the kinks and are now able to focus more on maintaining a supportive working culture.  Here are some tips on helping your team as you move forward, yet still stay together:

1. Different people have different issues

Remember that every person’s situation is different and going through this life-changing period of time is an individual adjustment.  This requires lots of communication (more on that coming up), flexibility and understanding as the situation plays out. 

2. Keep a routine

Maintain a schedule that includes weekly check-ins, even the one-on-one meetings. Keeping some semblance of structure will help team members stay focused and connected to one another.  

3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

One of the biggest challenges with working remotely is making sure expectations and ideas are understood clearly.  If you haven’t already, determine the best channel to communicate with members of your team (email, text, phone call, DM) and what is the expected time frame for a response, whether its client needs or internal responses. Consider a shared calendar to indicate availability and block out time. 

Communicate open and often. Sharing both good and bad news is important to maintain transparency and to ensure that your team is informed and prepared as things continue to change throughout this unsettled situation. 

4.  Continue to encourage personal growth 

Who doesn’t want to feel valued and rewarded? This may be a good time for a team member to take on a project out of their realm to grow in their position. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of webinars and virtual learning opportunities, many of them are being offered for free right now.  This is perfect for those who have extra time and makes it easy to encourage a culture of learning.

5. Celebrate milestones 

Even if your team is working from home, it’s important to recognize birthdays, anniversaries and other special achievements that make your team a family. 

6. Prioritize health and wellness 

Working from home can be stressful and isolation doesn’t help. Check in with your team often to ask about their wellbeing and to make sure they’re getting the emotional support they need.  Of course, be sure to communicate how much you appreciate their work and efforts during this unprecedented time.