Background noise can be \u201cruff\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n
We definitely continue working to keep any biases we may have in check when there may be pets, kids, or delivery people at the door. These things don\u2019t make someone less focused or productive; they make them human and able to operate in a flexible working environment. Go easy on the speaker whose dog decides to bark at just that moment.<\/p>\n
Be kind about others\u2019 WFH video conference backgrounds.\u00a0 Many folks didn\u2019t have time to build out that home office before COVID-19 sent them home to work.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen laundry, wine collections, old holiday decorations, family photos and messy kitchens in the background \u2013 just think of it as another way of getting to know your co-workers.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\nWell wishes from afar\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/strong><\/h4>\nTo continue building a sense of belonging, our team has a \u2018HR Pets at Poly\u2019 channel where we share our beloved pets and allow everyone else an opportunity to swoon. We also have a social channel where we wish happy birthday\u2019s, share vacation pics, and chat in general.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/h4>\nKeep a sense of community: Coffee\/Lunch\/Water Cooler chats<\/strong><\/h4>\n
When I get itchy that I don\u2019t have enough social interaction that day, I like to set up a virtual coffee, lunch, or quick \u2018water cooler\u2019 moments with my colleagues around the globe. It\u2019s super important to be aware of time zone differences in a global company, and yet these moments make us feel like we\u2019re closer than ever. You might be having coffee, but your (my) teammate in the UK might be sipping on gin!<\/p>\n
<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\nChange up your on-boarding\u00a0and learning practices<\/h4>\n
We recently decided to go fully remote for our new employee orientation. This allows everyone an equal playing field, without a focus on only those in the room. We\u2019ve had to make some changes in our facilitation practices to get more interaction out of the group, and we\u2019ve found that creating this remote connection right away helps people to see how our flexible work happens in action. This creates a safe space for everyone to learn our tools \u2013 you never know if someone is new to these or is a seasoned expert. We continue using LinkedIn Learning as a resource for employees and love the breakout room feature in Zoom for learning sessions with large groups.<\/p>\n
If you pick any of these top tips, or all of them together, you\u2019ll be well on your way to having a successful flexible workplace as well. While we know the COVID-19 is pressuring many of us to accept a new way of working, many of us are already here and ready to set the example for the future of work. Using ideas like this will help keep your culture alive and enable people to be unified, collaborative, and communicating.<\/p>\n
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