Engaging a Remote Workforce

We are a year into the pandemic, and it’s safe to say that the novelty of working remotely and not commuting has worn off. At this point, many people are eager to cram into a subway car, or chat with their colleagues around the office Keurig. Working on a dispersed team can easily lead to decreased employee engagement. But just because you’re working in your bedroom and your co-worker is across town at their kitchen table doesn’t mean that you can’t stay engaged. Here are some low-cost and no-cost ideas on how to engage a remote workforce:

 1. Cooking demonstration.  Do you have a colleague who would provoke envy with their delicious lunch leftovers in the breakroom?  Or maybe one who always rocked the holiday potluck?  Are you that colleague?  Offer to prepare a meal live while your team is watching.  Do any slicing and dicing prep beforehand, and circulate the recipe so colleagues can follow along.  As a follow up, ask colleagues who try the recipe to send photos of how their attempt turned out. Bon appétit! 

 2. Virtual happy hour.  The idea is that everyone brings a beverage of their choice (boozy or not) and people chat. Invite everyone to share what they are drinking, how they made it, and why they chose it. Maybe you’re sipping tea out of great-grandmother’s best china, maybe that flea market-find of a martini shaker is finally being put to good use. Your team will be saying CHEERS in no time!

 3. Fitness challenge.  There are many fitness challenges out there—30-day plank challenge, 10,000 steps challenge, couch to 5K challenge. Pick a challenge as a team and go for it!  The support and camaraderie is good for physical and mental health. Participation should be voluntary, and care should be taken regarding the language used to describe the challenge—the key here is to have fun and share something together.

 4. Virtual background with a story.  Virtual backgrounds really became a thing in 2020. Encourage your team to select a virtual background (it can be a photo they took or something they find online) and share why they selected it. Whether you’re on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise or the Hawaiian beach where you got engaged, you’re sure to spark some fun chat. 

 (Pro Tip: If you plan to have a very interactive online event, consider arranging smaller groups instead of one large group, so people don’t get lost in the virtual crowd.  And make sure you mix the groups up for each event to keep it fresh!)

 When an employee is truly engaged, they understand and care about the goals of the company as a whole, and the role they play in driving performance. They are motivated to strive for success as a team. So do your best to keep your team engaged, and you’ll surely reap the benefits of your efforts. 

 Engaging a Remote Workforce is the last blog in a 4-blog series on working and leading in a “Covid-Normal” environment.  Click to read the first 3 blogs Feed the Positive , Networking in 2021 , and Changing Jobs (during a pandemic) .

Job Hunting (during a pandemic)

If your goal is to find a new job in 2021, treat it like a project. Be intentional about your search. Looking for a new job is a job in and of itself, so get yourself organized with a strategic plan of attack before you start hunting.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Understand your strengths. It’s very important to know what your strengths are, and to align them to the kind of position you are looking for. There are resources online to help you assess your strengths, like StrengthsFinder. It’s also a good idea to think back to feedback you’ve received from colleagues and managers in the past. When reading job descriptions, evaluate the responsibilities against your strengths. We are more likely to be successful candidates for roles that play to our strengths.

• Make a specific wish list. Make a list of companies you would like to work for. Consider industries, geographic areas (i.e. 30km from your home), size of company, etc. Search for open jobs at these companies. Network with people at these companies to understand if they will have relevant jobs opening in the near future.

• Do your homework. Research the companies you are interested in working for. Understand their business cycle, culture, growth plans, and the opportunities and challenges that both the company and their industry face. It’s easy to do this online—many companies provide mission statements, links to media interviews, keynote addresses and the like on their websites, and you can use GlassDoor to see what former employees have to say—and through networking. Get informed, and determine if the company still appeals to you after you’ve done your research.

• Network, Network, Network! We’ve all been on Zoom for a year now, no excuses for avoiding virtual networking meetings! Don’t let the pandemic interfere with your determination to expand your professional network. Invite someone for a video coffee meeting. Or, if you or the person with whom you wish to connect can’t stand the idea of yet another Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or Google Hangout, offer a good old-fashioned phone call. You may find that the HR person you’re dying to talk to might be more willing to offer advice if he or she can fold laundry or pop on their headset and go for a walk at the same time. See last week’s post on Virtual Networking for tips.

• Follow up. Don’t be discouraged if someone flakes out on you. Sometimes people just get busy. If someone offered you information or an introduction, follow up with them. What do you have to lose?

• Prepare work samples. There’s nothing worse than having to scramble to put a portfolio together in a hurry, or to search your drawerful of USB keys for that one writing sample from two years ago. Curate a selection of your best work and create a digital portfolio as a PDF. Many companies offer applicants the option to upload such materials, in addition to a cover letter and resume, during the online application process. Why not take this extra chance to shine?

 Job Hunting (during a pandemic) is the third of a 4-blog series on working and leading in a “Covid-Normal” environment.  Stay tuned for thoughts on Engaging a Remote Workforce.  Click to read the first 2 blogs Feed the Positive and Networking in 2021.

Networking in 2021

It’s no secret—2020 was an exceptionally difficult year on so many levels.  Professionally, living in various forms of lockdown and social distancing doesn’t lend itself to maintaining our networks, let alone expanding them. We spent so many years creating and nurturing professional relationships, and in 2020 we had to push the pause button. Now that we’re well into 2021, here are some ways to revive our networks.

Seek out and attend online events
Its as simple as googling “online networking events [your city].”   Virtual networking has become a thing in 2021 and I don’t believe it will fade away too quickly.  The awkwardness of wondering if someone is looking to expand their network or if they will help you expand yours is greatly reduced.  All attendees have the same goal: expand their network.  Looking to network in hurry?  Check out speed networking.  Seriously.  Be prepared and bring your A game because it is fast paced!

Look into professional associations 
Do you have a professional designation or belong to a professional association?  Some are offering online networking opportunities.  The nice thing about these events is everyone has a common ground, making initiating conversation a little more comfortable. Seek input. Offer your perspective. Make connections.

Old school still works...with a twist 
Go ahead and reach out to people you already know to schedule a “virtual coffee.”  At the time of writing, Zoom offers free accounts that allows 2 people to connect at no cost. Why not take advantage?   Covid is a great reason to reach out to former colleagues and classmates to check in on them and re-establish those relationships.

“Covid-Normal” is our new normal.  If you are keenly interested in rebooting your network, set a goal for yourself.  Perhaps it is two virtual coffees a month. Don’t be shy! After you attend an online networking event, connect with other attendees on LinkedIn. Introduce yourself and suggest a phone call or video meeting to get acquainted. Reach out to former colleagues and classmates. During this unique time, many of us would welcome a virtual connection with someone. Hint: virtual backgrounds are a great way to hide a mess behind you, and they can be great conversation starters!

I’d love to hear what you are doing to build or maintain your network in 2021.  

Networking in 2021 is the second of a 4-blog series on working and leading in a “Covid-Normal” environment.  Stay tuned for thoughts on Job Hunting (during a pandemic) and Engaging a Remote Workforce.  Click to read the first blog in the series Feed the Positive.

Feed the Positive

I’m big on little things.  Very big on little things.  Both at home and in the workplace.

We all crave positive reinforcement. In fact, we thrive on it, in all areas of our lives. A simple “thank you” or “you did a great job on…” goes a long way.  And it’s free! Thanks for getting that info to me so quickly.  You dealt with that customer very well.  Dinner was delicious – thanks.  Thanks for taking me to my friend’s house. That acknowledgement from someone else makes us feel good and makes us feel valued; the appreciation makes us feel that we are not taken for granted. There is science behind the notion that recognition and positive reinforcement makes us feel happy and better about ourselves.

A quick personal story.  It was the winter of 2006. I don’t remember the exact date, but I remember these 2 events like they happened yesterday. I was living in Chicago at the time, and I hopped in a taxi to head home after work one evening. As I climbed into the taxi, I noticed a lanyard with ID/key card attached on the seat. The ID had the company’s logo and employee’s name. When I arrived at home, I looked up the location of the company (it was 7 blocks away from the one I worked in). On my way into work the next morning, I stopped at that building and dropped off an envelope for that person. In it was the ID and my business card with a note on the back that said something like “Found in a taxi. Thought you may need it 😊”.  Feeling pleased with myself, I continued on to work.  

Later that afternoon a beautiful little arrangement of flowers arrived at my desk. The handwritten note read “We spend far too much time feeding the negative vs. the positive. Just wanted to give your positive a little snack for the week.” Those words were so profound to me. So much so that I taped the note to a wall in my workspace.  Since that day I have changed offices, buildings, jobs, cities and even countries. The black ink now looks brownish-green. Each time, as I set up my new workspace, I tape the note up somewhere I can see it. That note lifts me up when I need it and serves as a reminder that little things have big impacts.

We are living in unprecedented times. We all need to feed our own positives, and those of others. I invite you to give someone else’s positive a snack this week. Give a colleague words of encouragement.  Leave a thank you note for your mail carrier. Offer to run an errand for a neighbour who may need help.

Do little things. Feed the positive. 

 Feed the Positive is the first of a 4 blog series on working and leading in a “Covid-Normal” environment.  Stay tuned for thoughts on Virtual Networking, Job Hunting (during a pandemic) and Engaging a Remote Workforce.

Three Big Reasons Your Small Business Needs Human Resources Expertise

Your small business can benefit from the expertise of a Human Resources Professional.  Like Accounting or Engineering, Human Resources professionals have a specific skillset and expertise to help you reach your business goals.  Let’s be honest, you wouldn’t hire that Engineer to manage your bank account.  And you wouldn’t ask the Accountant to build your product.  Those would be terrible business decisions.   Why then would you overlook the effective management of the people running your business?

You might not need a full-time Human Resources person on staff.  There are lots of flexible options now, like hiring an experienced consultant to fill your need on a part-time basis.  I call it the Fractional HR Leader.  You receive all the benefits and experience of a seasoned strategic HR partner on a part-time and flexible basis. 

Here are three big reasons your small business needs human resources expertise.

1. A Human Resources Pro Can Focus The Time Needed To Deal With Employee Matters
Dealing with issues related to your team can take time and attention.  Being focused on a day-to-day operation takes up most of your time as a leader.  Yet, employee issues deserve and demand time and attention too. A Human Resources professional can help you manage through these challenging and often complex situations.  Having a seasoned Human Resources practitioner adds a valuable resource to your leadership team.

2. A Human Resources Pro Can Offer Sound Leadership Advice   
Leading a business can be lonely.  As the leader, you’ve got to make tough decisions that can impact your staff.  Confidentiality is important and sometimes you just need someone to talk with.  Consider using a Human Resources professional as your thought partner in these difficult situations.  Your confidentiality is ensured and an experienced Human Resources partner has likely seen a similar situation before and can offer sound advice.

3. A Human Resources Pro Can Help Keep You Compliant
A Human Resources professional has sound knowledge of employment related legal standards.  They can provide you with guidance and ensure you’re focusing your compliance efforts in the right places.

No matter how small your business, you can benefit from the expertise of a strategic Human Resources partner.  Fractional HR Leadership can be flexible allowing you to reap the benefits and experience of an HR Leader without the full time price tag.