Much of the nation is talking about “reopening” the economy. Restaurants are beginning to open for normal business, albeit under strict guidelines, while others prepare to return to normal office hours. There’s plenty of debate surrounding the timing of all of this, and whether or not it’s the right move to make. Some think it’s too soon while others think it can’t come soon enough.
I’m not here to talk about that. Rather, I want to talk about how we, as leaders, should handle reopening when that time comes — whenever that may be.
Regardless of timing, we all must ask the right questions and take appropriate measures to ensure not only business success, but employee wellbeing. Here are the questions that should be top-of-mind for business leaders.
4 Crucial Questions to Ask Before Reopening the Office
1) What will make my team feel safe?
Health and safety must come first. It’s a non-negotiable. While many industries are being given strict guidelines for reopening (limiting customers, enforcing social distancing, rigorous cleaning routines), others are not being given the same direction. As leaders, we must ask what will make our teams both feel safe and be safe.
It may involve continued social distancing, wearing protective masks, and providing hand-sanitizer. It may be providing clarity around new standards of cleaning and disinfecting around the office. It may be taking temperatures before entering the office area.
Whatever measures you take, it’s important that you take them.
Our employees, our teams, they all want to work in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. No one wants to work in the fear that they will contract an illness. It’s critical, then to be open — especially as things reopen — about the steps and measures you will be taking to ensure healthy and safety above all.
2) How will I offer continued flexibility to my team?
As we move forward, flexibility will be the name of the game. We just don’t know what to expect! For leaders, compassion and understanding are key. Work with your employees who are at a high-risk or live with high-risk individuals. They may need to continue to work from home for their own safety. In the same way, understand that there will be kinks to work out. Reopening comes in stages, not in a single declaration.
Be willing to course-correct if things aren’t working or if you need to adjust to better serve your team and clients.
3) What wasn’t working before?
We’ve seen that many Silicon Valley businesses are shifting their models. Twitter is going to allow some employees to work from home permanently. Others are offering increased work-from-home flexibility.
In the office, some things just won’t work the same. Who is disinfecting the coffee pot? The copier? How crowded are our workspaces and conference tables? There are going to be adjustments — not just for social distancing and sanitation, but for the well-being of our teams.
Office trends change. For a long time, open offices were all the rage. They were thought to increase collaboration. Instead, they created distractions, killed productivity, increased sexual harassment, and made people generally unhappy.
Not to mention, open offices are a social distancing nightmare.
What I’m saying is this: allow the break to give you space to evaluate the office environment. What was working, what wasn’t, and how can you change the space to optimize health, productivity, and workplace satisfaction?
4) How can I best communicate with my team during these times?
As with all things, communication is key. We’re in a sea of uncertainty. Navigate these troubled times with transparency and clarity, particularly when it comes to your teams. As the leader, you are the touchpoint for information. This is why having a plan is so important, but that plan also demands careful and clear communication.
You might know what you’re doing, but withholding details from your team will only create anxiety. E-mail. Call. Have a digital conference or two. Reiterate the important details. Utilize multiple channels of communication and be available.
These are challenging, stressful times. Patience and careful communication is an absolutely necessity.
What are your leadership priorities as we move towards “normal” working conditions? Share in the comments.