The pandemic illustrates the need for teleworking on a massive scale, and raises questions about the cohesion and culture of teams over the duration of the crisis.

A new imperative

The majority of companies do not have a remote work strategy or policy, or support for leaders to maintain the engagement of their remote teams.

This key element of business continuity policies will now be audited by any potential partner or investor.

Beyond the hardware or software solutions that everyone must now implement as a matter of absolute urgency, by verifying that everyone knows how to use these remote communication tools, the question arises of how to really live with them.

Adapting your leadership to the crisis situation

Being authentic with your own individual anxiety: resisting the urge to run away from it, focusing on the purpose of the company and how it contributes to your own individual meaning

• Be empathetic with the need for balance: take even more care of yourself and your loved ones, manage your agenda while taking care to protect personal time
  
• Communicate again, communicate always: about what you are facing, what you have already achieved in the last few days and the tasks to come. While recalling the reason for being.
• Use short pre-recorded videos to communicate with all staff.
• The tone of voice and the posture are very clear during video communication. Consider doing a trial run with a few employees or a coach before broadcasting to all employees.
• Do not deny reality: state things clearly, describe the situation, face reality, name the risks up to the most catastrophic scenario
• Be authentic with your own individual anxiety: resist the urge to flee it by reassuring yourself of compulsive information, focus on the purpose of the company and how it contributes to your own individual meaning

Setting up a new form of remote interaction

Sanctify 1-to-1 with your direct collaborators, preferably on video, to maintain a permanent link and measure motivation.

Create daily, weekly, and time-based meeting rituals, and respect strict meeting etiquette: duration, topics to be discussed, round table, decision, report.

Encourage and participate in more informal forums, information-sharing groups (Whatsapp, Slack...) to maintain fun and conviviality (no more coffee machines!) , with well-defined time slots.