In these unprecedented times, it is important for staff to be intentional about staying connected and supporting the social-emotional needs of their staff.
To follow are ideas that have worked well for my colleagues and I.
Personal touch
At least once a month, send a personal note to those who report to you checking on how they are doing. Follow up with a video chat for those that ask for it. This goes a long way in letting staff know you care about them.
Daily check ins
Start days with a daily check in. See how staff is doing/holding up. Then discuss any needs staff have and come up with ways to support their work.
Intentional shout outs
Supervisors can shout out the great work of staff. Do your best to recognize each staff member (or team) at least once across the week. They can also invite staff to shout out colleagues.
Video on!
People want to connect and see one another. Turn the video on as you enter and whenever you are speaking. Turn it back on as you sign off. Additional video conference tips.
Get personal
It's okay to set aside some time to share and connect on a human level. Anything interesting this week? How did everyone start their day? What's your exercise routine look like. Connection is key.
Have fun
Let's face it. Working (and doing everything) from home is hard. Add some fun into meetings as appropriate with filters and backgrounds. We all need just a little more opportunities to laugh.
Project list
It's important to know what colleagues are working on all the time and especially when working remotely. We use something called an action tracker that indicates who is working on what project and what the status is. This is a great way to keep folks in the loop.
Your turn
What are you doing to stay connected in a time of working remotely?
cross posted at The Innovative Educator
Lisa Nielsen (@InnovativeEdu) has worked as a public-school educator and administrator since 1997. She is a prolific writer best known for her award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator. Nielsen is the author of several booksand her writing has been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times,The Wall Street Journal, Tech&Learning, and T.H.E. Journal.
