CORONAVIRUS: 5 simple ways to keep your team motivated
Team leaders and business owners are constantly faced with workplace challenges related to employee engagement, motivation, sense of belonging and so much more. Add to these challenges a coronavirus outbreak with a remote work setting and you got yourself a much bigger problem.
The pandemic is not only forcing businesses to rethink how they operate but is also putting at risk teams’ productivity and motivation. The good news is change brings new opportunities for growth. However, your agility and proactivity as a leader will determine whether your team pulls together and comes out of this crisis more unified.
Here are 5 simple ways to help keep your team motivated while working remotely.
1- Communicate- Plan a minimum of two video meetings daily with your team
These meetings should be ideally planned at the beginning and the end of the day. Start your workday with a 15-minute round table meeting encouraging each team member to share their thoughts, their plan for the day, etc. This is a great way to kick start the day and establish a human rapport between colleagues. It also provides an opportunity to identify certain behaviours related to a lack of motivation or enthusiasm and therefore helps you address them privately on a case-by-case basis.
Be sure to keep frequent communication amongst colleagues throughout the day. My team and I use Zoom and Skype for video chats as well as Slack for messaging and file sharing. There are many other apps available for free download, therefore, choose the best one that fits your needs.
Ending the day on a high note is crucial. The last meeting of the day should be focused on recognizing your team efforts and highlighting everyone’s daily achievements. Don’t forget to get creative with your meetings which brings me to the next point.
2- Make it fun- Be creative!
Nobody wants to attend a boring and long meeting. It makes it tough to keep everyone’s attention and could be a motivation killer. One way to spice things up is to come up with your meeting tradition. A good example is to use icebreaker questions with your team members. You can use a ‘draw a name out of a hat’ app such as Pickster or simply use Excel to do so. This is a great way to get to know your colleagues and reinforce team cohesion.
Another way is to seek a professional team building service specialized in hosting virtual team games, laughter yoga sessions or inspirational speakers. These are short and efficient 15 to 20-minute sessions that can liven up the mood prior to a meeting and keep your team interested and engaged on a weekly basis.
If you choose to host these sessions yourself, here are some fun icebreaker questions you can use and even adapt in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Name one thing you can’t live without (besides toilet paper!)?
- If you woke up tomorrow as an animal, what animal would you choose to be and why?
- What are your 10 favourite foods?
- More icebreaker questions here
3- Dedicate a budget for your team home office set-up
This initiative can go a long way in helping your team be more efficient working from home. For instance, if your work budget allows for it, you can provide your team with a set amount they can spend on office equipment that can help their set-up be more comfortable and ergonomic. You can even choose to provide a specific office item that you know everyone can appreciate such as an ergonomic mouse, chair, desk, etc.
This sends a strong message that the organization cares for its employees’ well-being and appreciates their commitment to working remotely. This also helps build a strong company culture.
4- Encourage employee physical activity
Encourage your team to maintain normal levels of physical activity both in the home and outdoors where appropriate social distancing is possible. Exercise lowers stress levels and boosts your mood while getting in shape. If physical activity is not an option, daily meditation is a great alternative. When done consistently, meditation reduces stress, improves focus, and relaxes the body. As a result, it can improve business productivity.
5- Plan a virtual cocktail hour once a week
Why not finish your last meeting of the day with a drink? Encourage your team to prep their favourite cocktail and finish your day with a team toast. For those who don’t drink, no problem! They can pour themselves a soda or any other non-alcoholic drink. This is a wonderful way to bond and celebrate your weekly achievements as a group. I suggest you choose a specific day of the week to do so and to stick with it. This creates a sense of enthusiasm and something to look forward to weekly as a team.
Conclusion
In these anxious and difficult times, organizations need to keep their employees motivated and in high spirits despite social distancing and working remotely. In my recent book ‘Engage and mobilize your team’, I share essential tools to get consistent and sustainable results when it comes to team mobilization. Although these methods are more focused in an office setting, some can be easily adapted to fit a remote setting.
Either way, I hope the tools shared in this article help you and your team get through these uncertain times together and emerge from it much stronger. Remember that there is no magic formula for team motivation. The most important thing is to adapt these helpful tools to your team needs as they are points of reference to get you on the right path.
What tools do you use to keep your team motivated while working remotely? Share your thoughts below, we’d love to hear about it! Join our newsletter here to receive informative and useful tips about team motivation and engagement.
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