A LEADING learning and development consultancy is offering free advice to businesses impacted by the Coronavirus restrictions and those who are now working from home for the foreseeable future (April, 2020).
Adaptis says the key to a successful transition to working from home is a person’s ability to manage themselves effectively.
Sara Burks, Director at Adaptis, which offers bespoke services to help organisations get the best out of their people, said: “Millions of us are now having to work from home, and for some, this may be their first experience of working in this way.
“Establishing routines and managing your time, creating a clear workspace and keeping on top of your wellbeing are key. It is a good idea to establish some routines, so get out of bed at your normal time as if you were going into the office, allow yourself time to shower and dress and get in the right mindset for a productive work day.
“Make sure you take regular breaks. Your lunch hour still exists! It is best to keep your work time for work and the evening for personal tasks, even if just to break things up a little.
“Working remotely now also means managers are probably facing the novel challenge of managing employees virtually. Given the lack of in-person interaction it is more important than ever to make sure your direct reports feel supported, guided and listened to.
“Help employees to maintain structure, by putting in place a daily catch up call. This can help to increase your employee’s motivation making them feel cared for and in touch with the organisation during this unstable time. Also, consider putting in place virtual coffee breaks so that colleagues can chat informally and not about work”
Businesses can benefit from Adaptis’ bespoke virtual training programmes in these unprecedented times. Programmes include bitesize virtual training options, which can provide managers and employees with the relevant training while at home.
Each programme can be adjusted to match the specific issues that you are experiencing within your organisation. Topics can range from ‘managing performance remotely’ through to ‘building resilience’.
Sara added: “We’re lucky that modern technology enables us to communicate with one another with reasonable ease during these challenging times, where face-to-face communication is no longer an option.
“However, technology doesn’t always run smoothly. Test runs of your chosen software ahead of client calls are always beneficial. Additionally, inviting attendees to start the session a few minutes early to deal with any log in issues can also be reassuring, especially for those new to the technology.
“Where possible get everyone logged into a video call. This can help to make the meeting feel a little more similar to what we already know, make things feel a little more personal and keep people more engaged. Although, as mentioned above technology issues can impact these meetings so it’s good to provide a dial in option.
“Bearing in mind that engagement can slip in virtual meetings it is useful to remind your meeting participants that they should ask questions and add comments as they would in a face-to-face meeting. You can enhance this by regularly checking in and asking for any questions. On the other hand, if you have a very chatty meeting it can be difficult for people to communicate without talking over one and other, in this situation as the host it is recommended that you virtually ‘go around the table’ for comments.”
More advice and information on working remotely can be found at www.adaptis.co.uk.
Adaptis is a learning and development consultancy offering bespoke services to help organisations get the best out of their people.
Its collaborative approach combines a thorough understanding of the client’s needs, practical applications of the latest business research and an eclectic team of consultants with diverse experience across multiple sectors.
Experts on the team can advise on managing yourself and others effectively, how to make your ‘virtual’ teamwork and how to effectively communicate in this new virtual world. To find out more, please contact a member of the team on hello@adaptis.co.uk.
For more information, please call Adaptis on +44(0) 845 200 2246, visit www.adaptis.co.uk, follow @AdaptisUK on Twitter or email hello@adaptis.co.uk.
