tools & tips to make your team more effective while wfh · connect with co-workers in a flash...
TRANSCRIPT
Tools & Tips to Make Your Team More Effective While WFH
April 29, 2020 - NCET
Gabbi Hall
About Me
● NCET’s VP of Blog Content
● Senior Copywriter at Noble Studios
● Spent 3 years working remote as the Digital Content Editor for Ski Racing Media
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● Questions to ask yourself when looking for solutions
● Some of my favorite tools for communication and collaboration
● Tips for staying connected with your team
● Probably a few bad jokes
What Will We Cover?
Problem: Isolation
Okay, so...How The F*** Do We Do This?
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● What pain points are you experiencing?
● What do I miss about being in an office?
● Is there a way to bring that into the virtual work environment?
Now is The Time to Ask Yourself and Your Team
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● Identify your problem
● Check your existing tools to see if the solution exists, and ask your employees
what they are already using (even if it’s not officially endorsed by the
company).
● If need be, add a new tool.
● Don’t just add tech for the sake of adding a shiny new toy when the solution
may be in your back pocket.
What Problem am I Trying to Solve?
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Can I Spend Money?
● Could this be the new normal once the crisis has ended? Do I need a short-
term or long-term solution?
● How many people does this help in the company?
● What tools and software companies are offering free trials so you can test
without risk?
● Nearly 200 companies are offering free access to their tools and resources.
Problem: Isolation
Common ChallengesAnd Potential Solutions
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Problem: Isolation
Video Conferencing
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say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person business
meetings and conferences.
85%
Source
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say they prefer in-person business meetings because they allow for more complex
strategic thinking.
49%
Source
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● Free and paid versions
● Zoom offers free group calls (up to 100
people) for up to 40 minutes
● No limit on the number of meetings
● Share screens from computers, tablets
and phones, record meetings
● Virtually whiteboard to share all your
ideas
● Don’t forget the fun virtual backgrounds!
Zoom
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Microsoft Teams
● Free and paid versions
● Communicate with your team and
always stay up to date with free chat
and search app capabilities
● Free, built-in group and one-on-one
audio or video calling
● Work together using your favorite
Office apps for web including Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote
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Problem: Ad Hoc Connections
Instant Messaging And Casual Conversation
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of respondents in ReportLinker's poll said instant messaging made
them more productive.
45%
Source
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of employees rely on instant messaging applications.
71%
Source
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● Plenty of integrations to tie in tools like
Google Drive or my personal favorite,
Giphy.
● Divide conversations into channels—by
client, project or any other topic.
● Channels are a great way to build
company culture—pet photos, TV show
dad jokes, travel tips, etc.
● Free 1-on-1 video chats, so you can
connect with co-workers in a flash
without creating a special meeting link.
Slack
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Google Chat
● Similar to Slack, but part of the Google
Suite.
● Conversations/groups by topic.
● Easy integration with Google Meet for
video chatting.
● Being part of the Google Suite means
easily being able to search for docs, past
conversations and more.
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IMissTheOffice.eu
● Even when you’re not in meetings, you
can feel like you’re in an office.
● Kids Creative Agency built an office
white noise generator, which anyone
can access at IMissTheOffice.edu.
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Every time, I finish a meeting or deliverable (which ends up being every 2 hours or so), I get up and move around for a few minutes. It's
been great to get moving.
Digital Marketing Specialist
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Problem: Accountability & Organization
Daily Scrum and Task Manager
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Of people and projects benefit from a task management tool. Okay, that’s not a real
statistic, but I’m pro-organization and it helps hold everyone accountable.
100%
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● Free, easy-to-adopt task management
tool
● Create Kanban boards where you can
easily drag-and-drop tasks as they go
through your processes.
● You can label tasks by custom themes,
attach files, leave comments to track
status, assign tasks and reassign them.
● You can also set up triggers to add a little
automation to your workflows.
Trello
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● Manage tasks and personal to-dos
● View lists, boards and calendars
● Create assignments and track due dates
● Move work through multiple stages
quickly, easily, and beautifully.
● Collaborate with up to 15 teammates
Asana
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Make sure you set boundaries on your time. It’s easy for work to bleed into life now. Protect your
time.
Project Manager
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Problem: Employee Engagement
Maintain Meaningful Connections
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Employees who have regular 1:1 meetings with their managers are 3 times more likely to be engaged.
3x
Source
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● Begin the feedback conversation with a check-in. "How are you doing today?" and "What is
the most important thing you are working on today?" These questions give you insight into
your listener's frame of mind and don’t just focus on constructive criticism.
● Do check-ins via video whenever possible. Verbal and non-verbal cues that colleagues use
to signal intentions and opinions can be easily overlooked in virtual meeting environment.
● Come to the table with a pre-set agenda so everyone finds value in the conversation.
Casual check-ins are valuable, but understand what the goal of your 1-on-1s are.
Invest in 1-on-1s
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I've learned how important it is to have more than 45 mins with my toddler each day. I get up and start work early and also got rid of an hour+ of commuting/daycare drop off, so I can have a couple hours
with him in the afternoon/evening!
Creative Designer
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I mailed my friend a drawing when she lost her job, and she mailed me back a thank you note, I've mailed my Grandma a letter, etc.
Makes it exciting to check the mailbox!
Digital Marketing Specialist
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Problem: Maintaining Company Culture
Make Time For Fun
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Happy employees are 12% more productive.
12%
Source
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At Noble Studios, we have a keg. We
all share a drink on Fridays at 3:30
pm, known as Beer Thirty. It’s a big
part of the culture.
While working from home, we’ve
kept the tradition, connecting (non-
mandatory) over Zoom each Friday
for a half hour of catching up and
cracking jokes.
Happy Hour
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Trivia
While you’re enjoying happy hour,
mix things up with a game like
trivia—any topic works, but company
and co-worker themed trivia is
always a fun subject.
Of course, there has to be prizes like
a virtual gift card to a local coffee
shop. You can get to raise your
employees’ spirits and support a
local business. triviamaker.com
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Working out at lunch is a habit I've adopted. Also making my lunch instead of hand chicken.
Client Success Manager
Gabbi Hall
Let’s Stay In Touch
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heregoesgabbi
/in/gabbihall
Problem: Isolation
What’s Next?Upcoming NCET Webinar
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May 6
Host: Marie Gibson – Gibson & Associates
Open to the Public, 3 pm – 4 pm PT
Your Action Plan For The Economic Recovery
Marie Gibson is a professional business
consultant who helps busy business owners
transform their accounting systems to give
them timely, and accurate, information; so
that they can focus on running their business
with certainty in an uncertain world.