Whether your entire workforce is now working from home, or you still have people on the ground, it’s crucial that your employees remain engaged. Here’s a few ideas to get the most out of your staff at this unusual time.

Keep in touch.

Whether your staff are used to being in an office or out in the community, it’s important that they feel connected with their colleagues and leadership. There’s lots to choose from when it comes to communication, so take the time to consider which form is best for your team and their working pattern. Not everyone will be able to keep up with an all staff live stream, so consider how you could make sure people still feel a part of the work community. Breaking teams into smaller groups to keep in touch via Whatsapp and instant message might offer some really great opportunities to stay engaged.

Create routine.

For many people this may be their first time working from home. Forming a sense of routine through regular meetings, calendar events and outlining timelines can create a fair and productive sense of expectation. Providing a sense of structure to the working week can produce immediate results, offering staff the chance to understand their schedule.

Lead by example.

It’s fair to say that many of us work well when we feel seen, heard and valued. When employees know that their leadership is trustworthy they’re far more likely to put in the effort themselves. Share updates on what you’ve been working on lately, allow your staff to experience a ‘day in the life’ through a blog or video or occasionally attend their department’s video call meetings. Transparency is the flavour of the day. Ask your staff if they understand your job role, if they don’t, it’s time to share and grow together.

Provide opportunities for feedback.

If your company normally has an employee feedback questionnaire or something similar try to continue to find ways to capitalise on the opportunity to hear what’s working well and what could be better. If you feel it would be beneficial you could even set up an employee committee or virtual comments box. This is an ideal time to make sure that you’re actively seeking and responding to feedback.