TELEWORK - An opportunity for Creativity

• Find the right communication tools to make up for the loss of face-to-face time.
• Communicate frequently using a variety of channels, like the telephone and email.
• Respond quickly to email requests if you can, if only to specify a time you will be able to respond more fully.
• Find a way to interact informally through virtual water cooler or coffee chats.
• Check in and inquire about other members of the team on a regular basis.

• The nature of remote work requires self-management. Self-motivation and self-discipline are essential for team members.
• Stay organized. Have a plan for the day, but be prepared to pivot!
• Manage your time efficiently and keep team members up to date on important deadlines.
• Define your working hours, and respect your start and finish times.

• Honesty is possibly the most important way to promote trust. Trusting other team members makes the team more effective.
• You are not alone! Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your team leader and team members.

• Help each other be right.
• Share your ideas and expertise.
• Work together with a sense of energy and team spirit.
• Prioritize getting along with your team members. Foster a climate of respect in which members feel safe to explore new ideas.
• Recognize a job well done.

• Try not to work longer than your regular working hours. Others you care for also depend on you.
• Get some rest, eat a balanced diet and use your communication devices to continue to stay in touch with others.

• Develop a strong sense of purpose. Build and sustain an environment of trust by communicating consistently and often to create a sense of team.

• Be consistent with your words and actions.
• Lead honestly and openly. You will find that team members respond with trust.

• Organize virtual team meetings regularly and help team members get to know each other on a human level.
• Facilitate weekly "water cooler" chats to create a team culture.

• Provide a clear purpose to bring focus, clarity and a shared context to virtual teams.
• Share a common vision that focuses on the team's mission and objectives by continually realigning people to emerging priorities.

• Clearly set out the desired results while letting individual team members decide how best to achieve them.
• Convey your trust. This will foster team members' sense of ownership in their work.

• Motivate by creating passion for the team's cause and by keeping the big picture at the forefront.
• Be clear about the importance of the tasks and their positive outcomes.

• Use various techniques like coaching and regular consultation to provide timely feedback to your team members.

• Be ready to adapt your leadership style. Early on, you may need to use your motivational skills. Later, you may need to keep team members on-task and focused.
• Be flexible and willing to let others take the lead when necessary.

Meaningful social connections help protect our mental health. But how do you maintain social connection at a time when public health authorities call for “social distancing” to stop the spread of illness? This fact sheet offers tips to help address isolation and loneliness some employees may experience while working from home.