Now, if you are already ofay with all the latest tec. If you are cool calm and confident about booking and running on-line video conferences, schedulers nd webinars, and loving it – firstly well done! Secondly skip to another post, or check out our guide to Connected Leadership, how to keep teams, engaged and connected during remote working and furlough, here .
If, however, you are finding switching to remote everything a challenge (like our feline friend above - seriously there's a reason for all the cats, just ask me and I'll be happy to explain).
Don’t worry.
You are not alone. Many people are finding this exponential learning curve a challenge (millennials included).
There are two initial actions I’d suggest and it depends on how well you know your team and how you prefer to lead as to which will work best for you;
A. Be transparent. Admit it’s not your thing. You don’t have to be good at technology to be great at leading people. There are also bound to be others in your team who feel exactly the same way and knowing they are not alone will be a relief. Find out who is good with the tec. And let them lead. They can set up the conference call and remotely chair the meeting in terms of presentations, sending out invites, switching presenter etc. Leaving you to do what you do best. Lead.
B. Find out who is good with the technology, ask for discretion and get them to give you a masterclass in it. This will take a little more time, but if your team need you to be in seen to be the technology wizard then it’s the best way forward. Remember to make sure your team know it’s ok to not be up to speed, relieve some of the stress for them at least.
Either way, remote working is here to stay for at least the foreseeable future. We are all learning, adapting and growing, please be kind to yourself and understand you don’t have to know everything, with time we will all learn.
That includes the companies providing the software. There have already been multiple reports of video conferencing crashes due to unprecedented use. IF your system goes down, don’t panic. These are the teething problems we are all dealing with. Do you best to have a back-up system in place and make sure you team knows how and when to use it.
What ever new technologies you and your company need to implement allow yourself and your team a grace period for learning all of it’s functionalities. You can even use this to help bond the team, share best tips and grow together.
Technology is moving so fast, particularly with the new demand in functionality and load, we can never be up to date with everything unless it is our sole focus. We just have to do the best we can and invite the humorous side of life in when it doesn’t quite work.
IF you feel like the past 5 weeks and all the years before then has already set you up to function at this point, it's time to start exploring the new options.
We are in a time fo great innovation. The businesses that can flex their styles and ways of working to be smooth and efficient for remote working will be ahead of those that can't.
I know it's not always easy. I have clients who run childrens parties, are physical therapists, work with blind clients or even have teams now split of multiple time zones due to their staff returning to their childhood homes due to the pandemic. They have all been working hard to adapt and thrive and many have even seen not just interest but increasing interest in working and purchasing on-line.
But we can innovate.
Have a brain storming session with the team and wider business. Play with new ideas and tech. So many companies are offering free trials right now that other than ensuring they are safe to integrate into your systems, you have little to loose by trying them.
I've avoided specifics. I know every business and team are unique. If you need space to find clarity, strategise what tech to try out or some coaching to imporve your confidence in your calls then please do use our COVID-19 link here to book a complimentry session to allow just that.