Resources for Individuals
8 Tips for Working & Leading Remotely
1. Reset Your Expectations & Be a Resource
- Focus on results - not how the work gets done.
- Be flexible! Understand we're shifting from synchronous work to asychronous.
- Help your colleagues find support resources if they run into technology issues.
2. Stay Connected
- Schedule daily 10-minute checkin meetings with your team or colleagues using Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
- Review our videoconference tips to help you have the best experience.
- Create a Microsoft Teams channel to stay engaged with your team throughout the work day. Think of this as a virtual water cooler.
- Encourage virtual social activity amongst your team. For example, if your team used to go out for coffee once a week, encourage them to continue meeting virtually for coffee!
3. Interpret Tone & Voice
- When collaborating remotely, you can't rely on non-verbal data and body language. Instead pay close attention to:
- Patterns in tone of written communications.
- Rate, volume, pitch, and inflexion of voice communications.
- Physical gestures in video communications.
4. Lead by Example
- Model optimism - leaders who demonstrate hopefulness and confidence can help their colleagues find meaning and purpose in their work, especially during stressful times.
- Be a role model for how you'd like others to engage remotely. For example, when meeting virtually, turn on your video so colleagues can see you.
5. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!
- Provide an update to your team even when there is no update to provide.
- The more you can communicate with your team, the more it can help reduce anxiety, uncertainity, and stop the spread of misinformation.
- Humanize your communication by encouraging video conferences or phone calls.
6. Gauge Stress & Engagement Levels
- Make it crystal clear to your team that their well-being is your top priority.
- Monitor engagement by asking two simple questions:
- On a 0 to 10 scale, rate the level of stress you currently feel.
- On the same scale, rate your overall engagement.
7. Take Care of Yourself
- Before you can take care of other people, you must first take care of yourself.
- Maintain your normal routine. For example, get ready for work in the morning.
- Take a lunch break.
- Take breaks throughout the day - go for a walk around the block, get fresh air, play with your dog!
- Get adequate sleep.
8. Continued Learning
- A remote work environment can potentially offer fewer distractions and a great opportunity for professional development.
- Identify potential trainings or webinars to attend.
- LinkedIn Learning offers over 15,000 courses to UO employees at no cost. All UO employees can create an account.
Source: 8 Ways to Manage Your Team While Social Distancing
Resources & Tools
LinkedIn Learning
- As of January 2021, all UO employees have university-sponsored access to LinkedIn Learning, with unlimited free access to online courses taught by industry experts in business, technology, and design.
EAB - Education Technology, Services, and Research
- EAB is a best practice firm that uses research, technology, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry.
- All UO employees can create an account.
EDUCAUSE
- EDUCAUSE is a community of IT leaders and professionals working together to tackle challenges and leverage opportunities that are constantly evolving within higher education.
Gartner
- Gartner provides leaders with business insights, advice, and tools needed to achieve mission critical priorities and build organizations.
Other UO Resources