How to Keep Employees Engaged in the “New Normal”
According to Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, “25–30% of the workforce will be working-from-home multiple days a week by the end of 2021”.
It’s no secret that working from home can be difficult (especially during a pandemic). There’s also no secret formula for how to keep business objectives moving. Everywhere around the world, businesses are pivoting to a new future. It looks like remote work is here to stay.
So how do we keep our employees engaged during this time? Here are some practical methods that have worked for several organizations around the world. We at, 9Dot Education Solutions, have utilized these methods to create wonderful collaboration among our employees.
1. All-Hands-On-Deck Meetings
In a time of major uncertainty, it’s incredibly important that companies remain transparent about their upcoming goals and plans. This gives a chance for leadership teams to communicate with their employees and include everyone in the conversation. It allows time for employees to ask questions, clarify roles, and offer new ideas or solutions.
2. Stand-Up Check-Ins
While a majority of us are sitting at the desk all day, stand-up meetings have become quite popular among tech and design organizations. These meetings typically allow employees to stand up while discussing their updates for the week and any potential or current issues. It also promotes more comfortability to employees, as it keeps them energized and engaged when standing up.
3. 1:1 Meetings
Weekly or bi-weekly, having one on one interaction between a supervisor and an employee helps to clarify any issues or concerns an employee may have. It also helps employees who may not feel comfortable expressing their opinions in a group setting. One-on-one interactions also promote a greater sense of understanding and creates an atmosphere that can feel much more intimate and comfortable for real conversations about their professional development and company feedback.
4. Icebreaker Hours
Having happy-hours or fun trivia games during the week can be very helpful to boost employee morale and feel like they are part of a family away from the office. At 9Dot, we are passionate about events and have created 10+ events over the last few months in an effort to connect with our employees.
We have established a Connection Committee that focuses on building relationships among employees through virtual meetings and games such as cooking classes, art shows, trivia games, and much more! If you’re looking for a service provider to bring the Connection Committee to you and your employees, email us to get started (events-comm@9dot-es.com). We have worked with over 20+ charter schools around the country to bring fun and engaging virtual events to their staff!
In conclusion:
Physical work spaces may be fading, but your relationship between you and your employees should not. Working from home can still be a great outlet to build trust and connection among your employees. However, this does not come without a leadership team that can offer empathy and understanding to their staff, and outlets for employees to connect.
