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COVID-19: 7 tips from our CEO

April 9, 2020.

How can we take advantage of technology to enhance the efficiency of our teams or the agility of our company during this time of crisis? Stéphane Rouleau, our CEO, answers candidly: “Technology supports us, but make no mistake, our teams are our most important asset and must be at the heart of all our actions.” Rouleau shares his key tips for companies that have unexpectedly turned to remote work:

Set Up Central Communication

In order for your teams to work efficiently, communication channels must be put in place to facilitate collaboration. A communication platform such as Microsoft Teams, Slack or Mattermost is crucial to support real-time communication and helps keep projects running smoothly. A centralized platform also enables management to quickly relay new information or announce new procedures to all employees in this constantly changing environment.

Implement Guidelines

It’s important to clearly indicate what types of discussions are encouraged and what is off limits. This platform must spell out and enforce communication guidelines to rule out offensive, sexist or political speech, while still allowing users to vent and joke. Use your guidelines to reflect and promote your company culture and values.

Review Cash Management Frequently

Review Cash Management Frequently

Your monthly scrutiny of profits and losses won’t cut it at this time. You’ll need to monitor and control your cash management on a weekly or even daily basis. This is a great time to introduce or implement further automation in your process.

Monitor Objectives Differently

Some employees won’t be able to dedicate the same amount of time to their work as they used to. Work-life balance as we knew it has completely been redefined. If working remotely is new to your company, you’ll have to change your mindset and switch from hours-based work to goals-oriented work. Consider measuring productivity in terms of results instead of time needed to reach them.

Communicate!

Communicate, communicate, communicate with your teams. It is absolutely crucial to have several communication channels and formats to accommodate all. At the moment, video is probably your best bet to relay detailed information while capturing your audience’s attention. Your second-best option is voice, in case video-editing skills aren’t part of your toolbox yet. Instant messaging comes in third and is typically more suitable for quick updates and simple questions. Finally, use email as a last resort.

Repeat. Reiterate. Restate.

Make sure that the information you want to convey is being received and understood properly. Working from home has its load of distractions, so don’t be afraid of repeating yourself. Your employees are adapting to a new reality and might need a friendly reminder here and there.

Check-in Regularly

Want to know how your teams are doing? Ask them. Send short surveys to keep the pulse on your employee’s moral and general well-being. Involve your teams by requesting feedback on new procedures and keep the door open to their suggestions. Informal lunches in small groups, even remotely, are a great way to feel the pulse of your teams, answer their questions and address their concerns. Don’t be afraid to let your people ask direct and hard-hitting questions. It’s time to be transparent more than ever.

If you’re experiencing issues with remote work, contact our experts.