COVID-19 has changed the way that we work, perhaps permanently. The need for social distancing during this critical period has forced millions of people to work from home, missing the critical structure and personal contact that fuels productivity and creativity in the workplace.
I have talked to several CEOs of major Fortune 2000 companies over the past two months and they relayed that many of them will close or consolidate corporate headquarters within the next two years. In this area of cost-cutting as the Great Recession looms, companies can save more than $1000-$2000 per worker on reduced office space and logistics if they move to a remote work model. Most companies will opt for a “hybrid model” – with half of employees working on site and the rest working remotely. Many people prefer working remotely and organizations will use this as a perk to attract and retain talent.
Read More: Can Employees Help Lead The Way Out Of This Covid-19 Crisis?
Remote work was already a surging trend even before COVID-19. Before the virus, 29% of knowledge workers worked remotely (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistic), which includes 50% of all Information Technology workers. Over the next 12-24 months, that figure will most likely skyrocket to 60% as companies look at ways to increase profits through cost cutting and investing in remote work technologies.
While remote work may seem appealing, it still leads to significant drops in productivity – a huge concern as companies struggle to boost profits in a challenging economic climate. Nicholas Bloom, a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research stated that the work-from-home movement will lead to a “productivity disaster” for organizations. Bloom believes that face-to-face meetings are essential for developing new ideas, driving innovation and keeping employees motivate and focused.
Concerned about remote worker productivity, the CEOs I connected with have found that analyzing email usage, Zoom, Slack and online search histories do not show a full picture of what a worker is doing. Instead, I recommended that they use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to ensure that workers are focused in the “deep work” – the work that fulfills the most important business objectives – rather than process or busy work. AI can also help companies reveal who the most valuable knowledge workers are – those that are making a big difference in fulfilling company objectives and driving profits.
I also recommended five other techniques to keep remote workers focused, engaged and energized. Time and time again, I have found that these traditional techniques work and serve as an effective humanizing complement to the AI tools.
Frequent Check-Ins
People miss face-to-face contact – informal chats over coffee, spontaneous brainstorms in office hallways, the feeling of being part of a team. Check in frequently with your teams over Zoom or even via phone and ask them how they are doing. Make this a natural check-in – not a formal daily one. Don’t do this via email – call them and make it personal. It is important to be compassionate and empathetic during this time. Share tips on how your teams can help their people manage these unique circumstances.
Set Goals and Metrics for Each Individual
Ideally, you want to create an environment that will empower people to succeed – one that dramatically boosts productivity but also improves employee retention. Use this break from the office to build new habits and structure that will help your people be the best that they can be. Set quarterly goals and metrics for each person and recommend career-enhancing education and reading materials that will enhance their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses.
Read More: Returning To Work After The Lockdown: How Employees Are Feeling
Keep an Eye on Productivity without Micro-Managing
While it is important to be human during these uncertain times, we must ensure that people deliver the most valuable results to bring organizations back to profitability. This can be challenging for remote workers as the distractions from home – children, TV, online surfing, snacking — make it tough to stay focused. Right now is the best time to invest in an AI system that can track worker productivity better than humans can. AI can do this safely and without impacting the worker’s privacy. Instead, it can serve as their “best friend” and personal career coach, guiding them to the most important work tasks and how to get them completed quickly and efficiently.
Help People Stay Focused
As humans, we are notoriously bad with self-control and often believe that we are more productive than we really are. This problem is exacerbated when we are working at home with no one watching us. As a manager, it is your responsibility to help your teams stay focused with their eyes on the prize. So, managers must make expectations clear and communicate them openly. One cannot assume that teams know what to do or how to do the tasks you need completed. Offer guidance that gets and keeps your teams on the right path – or else you risk having them diverge off course. Remote management will actually require stronger people management skills – so you must, at this critical time, provide even more explicit direction with specific expectations and deadlines communicated frequently.
Don’t Play Favorites
In many office settings, leaders often have their favorite employees – the ones they enjoy working with the most – and those people often get the most attention and accolades. In this new remote environment, all employees need attention, not just the ones that we think are special.
Now is the time for you to have an open door – a virtual open door if you will – and encourage your teams to get in touch with you at any time. Be as accessible as you can via Zoom, video calls and mobile. During these random chats, you may find that your teams are coming up with breakthrough ideas – after all the best ideas are generated spontaneously. Therefore, encourage as much interpersonal connection as you possibly can.
These are some “old-school” techniques that still work well even in this post-virus world. Coupling these techniques with modern AI leadership tools will ensure that your workforce stays energized and intact even during the toughest times – and that they will come out unscathed when economic recovery returns.