Category: Essential Workplace Skills

8 April 2020

How To Run A Virtual Meeting Like A Pro

Dana Lightbody/Essential Workplace Skills
Run Virtual Meetings Like a Pro

Learn these 5 pro tips for running an effective virtual meeting and continue to bring the best out of your team in the new world of work. 

 

The COVID19 outbreak has forced most employees to work from home and this presents a host of communication challenges for teams. The distance, disruptions and anxieties resulting from this crisis are making it difficult to hold the team’s attention and get things done.  

 

How can leaders maintain a productive and collaborative team culture in the new world of work?

 

Here are 5 tips for running a virtual meeting like a pro so you can communicate effectively and lead productively from home:

 

1. Select a multi-function virtual meeting room 

Identify the app that will deliver a range of virtual meeting functions aside from a clear and secure line for video conferencing. Consider a lean solution like MS Teams to organise all of your meeting activities, i.e. screen shares, virtual whiteboards, chat forums, live editing of documents, et cetera, all in one place.

 

2. Set the rules for meeting etiquette 

Establish simple rules to maintain professionalism and be consistent with it. Here are some examples –  

  • There should be a clear agenda 
  • Keep the camera turned on throughout the meeting 
  • Keep the microphone on mute until it’s your turn to speak 
  • Set up your camera to show a clean, well-lighted space. If the space is not presentable, use virtual or blurred backgrounds from the meeting app. 

 

3. Establish a meeting structure 

Set the stage for when and how your daily, weekly and monthly meetings are going to run so that your team knows what to expect and come prepared. Set rhythms and rules for what needs to be covered. For example – when and how do you tackle individual challenges, team constraints, the big, hairy problems and so on. 

 

4. Always make a great start

Getting the team engaged and focused is always a great way to start. Here are a few ideas for kicking-off a great virtual meeting –

  • Make it a habit to first check on how the team is doing. Ask them what’s going well and what isn’t
  • Celebrate quick wins or sort out minor roadblocks
  • Briefly layout the goal of the meeting by reiterating why it matters and why they should care

 

5. Track meeting outcomes 

Figure out how to track your meeting’s performance and ensure that your team is getting the most out of the experience. For example – How are you doing on time? How are you managing meeting outcomes? What is the reporting or feedback mechanism like?  

 

Making the best out of virtual collaboration allows you to drive productivity and team satisfaction in the the new world of work. Learn more about the all-important, people-first response by reserving your spot for the COVID 19 Workplace Law Essentials Online Seminar. 

Workplace Law Essentials

7 April 2020

Top 5 Workplace Law Implications of COVID 19

Dana Lightbody/Courses
Top 5 COVID-19 Workplace Policy Implications

What are the legal and operational guidelines that HR leaders should consider to mitigate the impact of COVID 19 in the workplace?

 

International Labor Standards provide a strong foundation for policy makers to protect workers and support businesses during crisis. These standards, based on the ILO’s preliminary assessment of the impact of COVID 19, are issued to guide institutions and enterprises along a steady path to recovery.  

 

Here are the Top 5 workplace guidelines according to the International Labor Organization to ensure the sustainability of businesses and the safety of employees in the new world of work. 

 

1. Strengthen Occupational Safety and Health Measures 

Work should continue to strictly abide with personal and environmental hygiene guidelines, social distancing, health screening, and increased provision of protective equipment (especially for health and allied workers). These measures need to be enforced until a vaccine becomes available. In the meantime, refer to the full list of WHO Guidelines to prevent or reduce COVID 19 risks in the workplace. 

 

2. Adopt Flexible Work Arrangements  

Encourage appropriate flexible working arrangements, such as work-from-home and staggered hours to observe social distancing and prevent infection. Flexible work arrangements also provide much needed support to parents struggling with childcare as school systems and daycares shut down. 

 

For employees who can’t work remotely, like the manufacturing sector for example, develop schedule workarounds to keep employee density down while achieving the same level of productivity.

 

3. Prevent Racism and Discrimination 

Fear of the coronavirus is manifesting as discrimination against frontline workers and people of Chinese or Asian descent. Employers need to be vigilant with the enforcement of anti-discrimination, harassment, bullying and retaliation policies and conduct investigations where needed. Educating workers on the nature of the virus is important to ward off potential stigmatisation, misunderstanding or overreaction. 

 

4. Provide Health Access for All 

Provide universal access to collectively financed health services for employees and their families in their time of need. Other measures include childcare for working parents and mental wellness support. Crisis can increase anxiety and depression among people. Services may range from online therapy sessions to self-care apps. 

 

5. Expand Paid Leave Benefits 

Paid sick leave, sickness benefits, and parental care leave ensure income security for those who are sick, quarantined or caring for children, elderly or other family members. 

 

Provisions for paid sick leave should be available for employees who are unable to work due to quarantine or illness. Some countries like Ireland, Singapore and South Korea, have even made sick pay/leave available for the self-employed.  

 

Protecting and supporting workers and businesses are both critical to our recovery from this global pandemic. Learn more about the all-important, people-first response by reserving your spot for the COVID 19 Workplace Law Essentials Online Seminar. 

Workplace Law Essentials