Times, they are a-changing. With the lockdown and ensuing isolation, companies large and small are adopting new paradigms of working. ‘Remote working’ has become the norm overnight as companies seek operational continuity amidst the global outbreak. Having said that, the changing environment and increased uncertainty about the future are bound to cause psychological upheavals amongst employees who are coming to terms with the impact of social distancing, work from home, and the new work-life balance till the lockdown is lifted.

This new environment calls for new ways in which employers ensure the wellbeing of all employees. It is encouraging to see companies using this opportunity to keep their workforce engaged and inculcating in them the power of working collaboratively. Upskilling to grow professionally and personally, onsite trainings on product and service offerings, management skills, inspirational readings, as well as some fun stuff to keep a sense of bonhomie going – all of these keep employees productive, motivated, and engaged.

A ‘care over control’ philosophy goes a long way in achieving this goal where empathy and transparent two-way communication works best as employees adjust to their new reality. How you help them adjust and cope can earn their trust and loyalty, now and way beyond the crisis.

Some suggestions, based on our employee engagement research, on how to create the best employee experiences possible in these difficult times:-

Professional Skills – Online interactive training and development programs help enhance the skill sets and help groom leaders step up when the time comes. Offer them a range of job/role specific skill training modules they can choose from that will enhance their current skills.

Organizational Knowledge – This is the best time to ensure that every employee learns and imbibes all there is to know about the organization – whether it is a refresher course on the company mission and vision or then business-specific knowledge including products and services offered. Such training can be offered through interactive sessions, training videos, and fun quizzes. Senior managers can be called upon to share their learnings and interact with trainees to answer questions on the spot, and give them an opportunity to network and learn from peers as well. This also builds a sense of camaraderie amongst team members.

Personal Development – The work from home environment is a great time to help people grow themselves personally as well. Companies that offer personal development training such as – how to be a better leader, the power of mediation/empathy, listening to lead, etc, will emerge stronger with a stronger brand loyalty amongst employees. It will make employees feel valued that they are being invested in for growing as true leaders.

Team Work – The perfect time for team leaders to build team spirit as they have a captive audience. Using online platforms and channels, team leaders can share interesting information, play product and service related quizzes, and have daily contests. All of these keep up the competitive spirit while keeping team members engaged. Results can be shared on collaborative platforms like Workplace by Facebook.

The Fun Quotient – A happy and motivated workforce that has fun together always works well. To keep the environment light and engaging, companies can create fun, in-house ‘campaigns’, calling on people to share interesting activities they may have taken up while working remotely like sharing interesting cooking hacks, exercising and meditating, reading inspirational authors, playing an instrument or for that matter pursuing their passion. Sharing this on Workplace will inspire others to follow suit, spreading the joy and cheer. Daily fun quizzes also add spice and help break the monotony of daily routine.

Reward the Heroes – In times of crisis there are always some people who stand out either doing extraordinary work or demonstrating astonishing leadership. Companies would do well to recognize such people and, if practical, reward employees for going the extra mile to help colleagues and customers.

Supporting the physical and mental well-being of its employees, promoting dialogue to build understanding, recognizing, and acknowledging employee effort and driving engagement via innovation – these are tools that will power your organization’s growth. In effect, it is the potential of any organization to adapt and collaborate that will help build resilience in the times of the pandemic.

Learning During The Times Of A Lockdown