Business Continuity Plan, Part 1: Optimizing Virtual Teams
“Badasses can work from anywhere. When the right team is in place—wherever that ‘place’ is—there’s nothing ‘virtual’ about their results.”
Last Thursday afternoon, my team gathered to brainstorm ways to help high-performing Founder CEOs navigate the current economic, financial, social, and emotional climate.
By Friday morning, we not only crafted a shared Google doc packed with ideas—we built an entire Crisis Navigation Workshop that launches this Thursday, fully equipped with the business continuity tools, resources, and support to see this and any crisis through. We're absorbing the costs of this event so that companies like yours can continue to make an impact in the communities that need you most.
I tell you this for three reasons.
So that you continue to lead with intention from a place of endurance and strength.
So that you understand what virtual teams can do when engaged, empowered, and energized.
In the coming weeks, our newsletters and blog posts will be geared toward helping you and your team navigate these uncharted waters and come out better for them.
Today we're focusing on at-the-ready tips to galvanize your virtual workforce against the challenges they may face in light of school closings, emotional overwhelm, and the unknown. Keep reading to get real tips from my team on how they've turned their home offices into badass command centers.
We'll cover this and so much more in more detail in Thursday's workshop. In the meantime, if you need specific, more immediate help, please reach out. We're ready when you are.
Onward,
Bill
How to Set Up Your Virtual Team for Real Success
Set office hours. Have each team member identify and outline their availability in terms of production, office hours, meetings. Be open to some non-traditional work hours as long as deadlines are met.
Set clear timeframes. Clearly note deadlines in terms of day, time, and time zone (instead of terms like "EOB" or "EOD") to avoid miscommunication.
Maintain a consistent meeting schedule, including daily stand-up calls or check-ins to monitor (but not micromanage) progress.
Use a Scoreboard to track goals, KPIs, and project progress.
Maintain data security through VPNs, robust passwords, and password-protected services.
Equip them to dominate. Do they need another power cable? An extra monitor? A Starbucks gift card? A moment to vent? How you support your team in challenging times speaks to your true character.
Virtual team environments can be pretty isolating most of the time, so make sure to create time in your meetings or in your Slack channels to introduce something fun, creative, or unique to your company culture.
Celebrate completed tasks or give thank you's with emojis like dancing bananas, tacos, or branded images.
Share song playlists or strange news from around the world.
Invite your teams to take pictures of their desks, weather, or scenery.
Celebrate birthdays or work anniversaries with a "live" birthday song.
Have contests based on brand playbook trivia or performance.
Create an ongoing meeting agenda where everyone is encouraged to share a personal or professional win.
