The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down. Since its outbreak, COVID 19 has been effectively disrupting every part of our everyday existence, and the economy is no exception. Many businesses were caught with their pants down, as they found themselves inadequately prepared for the situation.
More than half a million small businesses have been forced to shut down their operations in the USA alone, and the number is likely to grow. Many companies have struggled, especially with the sudden shift to a remote workforce.
And sure, maintaining your business continuity with most of your employers working remotely isn’t an easy task. It’s not impossible, though. You simply need to know how to adapt your business continuity plan (BCP), which despite its menacing sound, it’s much less complicated than you may think.
More on that in the guide below.
Get Reliable Continuity Software
If you don’t have one already, getting reliable business continuity software is the first step you should make to ensure your company gets through the crisis. In fact, it’s a miracle that you’ve managed to survive without one. But it’s better late than ever.
In short, business continuity software is a tool designed to make disaster planning processes more effective. It provides you with all the necessary information about your BCP, helping you create the right path for your organization.
It will also ensure your programs are up to date, allowing you to create a more efficient cybersecurity and data protection strategy. What’s more, when using software, you’ll be able to keep your remote workers up to date much faster.
Make Communication Your Priority
One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is maintaining efficient communication. It’s the thing that many organizations have been struggling with during the corona crisis. And it’s one of the main reasons why so many have failed.
When it comes to keeping your team connected when working remotely, there’s no other way than going the extra mile. You need to make everyone feel like they’re part of the organization. And that they can still contribute despite having to work from home.
But that’s not all. If you wish to maintain a good atmosphere, you have to create space for your employees where they can express themselves. If you fail in that, it can negatively affect their productivity and morale. And that’s something you wish to stay out of during the crisis.
Most importantly, though, only by keeping your team connected with themselves and yourself, you’ll ensure there won’t be any disruptions along the way. Your employees will be able to inform you quickly about any potential concerns, allowing you to act much faster.
Keep in mind that communication is your key to success. That’s why making it your top priority is a must when dealing with a situation like the one we have now. The best idea is to combine various communication channels. You should use:
- Video chats and online meetings
- Communication platforms, e.g., Slack
- Cloud for sharing essential files
Implement Remote Management Techniques
When dealing with a remote workforce, you have to change your attitude as a manager completely. Keep in mind that working from home is much different than being in the office. That’s why implementing the same management techniques might end in a disaster.
First of all, you need to be more empathic. The situation we’re in is very stressful, and the chances are your employees aren’t feeling comfortable with it, meaning they might be having a hard time managing stress and anxiety. With that in mind, you should show them support and let them know that they can count on you.
In short, now it’s your time to be the leader. Show people that you feel confident, and they will follow you. Create reasonable goals, focus on achievable tasks, and encourage your team to keep them productive. If you fail, and your team’s morale falls, the outcome will be disastrous.
Measure Your Effectiveness
Implementing the tools given above is one thing. The other is making sure they work, meaning you have to measure their effectiveness. But while checking whether your team is working effectively is relatively easy while in the office, working remotely is another story.
The first thing to do is to create a set of goals and expectations. Give your employees their tasks and ensure they understand what you expect from them. Give them a realistic amount of time and see if they’ll stand up to the job. Once they finish, ask them to fill out the forms concerning objectives.
Secondly, a good idea is to ask your customers about their opinion. They’ll be able to tell you whether the transition to remote work has been a success and if there are things you need to improve.
Bottom Line
When conducting a transition from stationary to remote work, many things can go wrong. To ensure everything goes smoothly, and without any significant disruptions, you need to create a plan. Unfortunately, the pandemic had other plans.
In a matter of weeks, companies had to turn their traditional way of conducting business upside down. But whereas a significant number of businesses failed to maintain their business continuity when forced to work remotely, as you can see from the article above, a successful transition is possible.
The key to everything is efficient communication. Only by keeping you and your team connected, you’ll be able to implement all the necessary changes efficiently and without any disruptions.
