COVID-19 has produced a situation in which the majority of employees are compelled to work from a different place, often from home. This global event has greatly overturned the idea that Agile teams must be physically present in an office for some firms, demonstrating that individuals may be highly productive even when working remotely. Many industry experts now expect that once the crisis passes, a “new normal” will emerge.
Along with everyday cooperation, agile teams emphasise the benefits of face-to-face contact. It’s a basic principle of agility. However, experience has proven that even when some (or all) team members are not working in the same physical place, Agile teams may still be successful and achieve high performance.
Known Agile principles such as securing commitment to a set of goals during Iteration planning, using the Daily Stand-up to guarantee alignment, and delivering stories throughout iterations apply regardless of whether the teams are in person or remote. While remote teams can still commit to an Agile way of working, there are significant differences that must be considered.
How to stay Agile while working remotely?
- Ensure that your staff are appropriately equipped
Start by making sure your staff have the VOIP phones, VPN connections, and other equipment they’ll need to accomplish their tasks from home. Streamline your requisition processes so that individuals may acquire the equipment they need quickly. Without it, your company’s ability to respond to client needs and collaborate as a team could suffer at vital points, or perhaps be crippled entirely.
2. Gather all necessary resources in one place
Maintain a single-source-of-truth repository for critical papers, as well as a constantly updated intranet with policies and procedures, FAQs, and other information. Better yet, after a few days of working remotely, ask your team what shared resources they require the most. Prevent unpleasant surprises: Customers will be annoyed if they discover multiple versions of a contract or other significant project document.
3. Maintain a tight relationship
To maintain team morale and develop a sense of community, conduct regular “virtual walkarounds’ ‘ to touch base with employees one-on-one, hold regular web chats with the team, and consider having an online happy hour every Friday. Set a good example by ensuring that everyone uses cameras and collaboration tools, including senior management. Employees may experience attrition if they believe management is disinterested when working remotely.
4. Be proactive in your communication
There are numerous technologies available to assist teams in collaborating internally as well as facilitating communication with clients and prospects. Instead of waiting for them to contact you, call out and ask if they’re anticipating an issue or a need so you can take care of it early. Also, keep in mind that some clients are used to receiving help in person and maybe unclear about how to communicate with a work-from-home account or support team. Prepare ahead of time by sharing contact information and establishing collaboration channels before they inquire.
5. Maintain flexibility
Nobody knows where we’ll be in six months. Even if the pandemic has passed, the impacts on your company’s bottom line, operations, and industry will almost certainly be long-lasting, and the economy may still be shaky. There may also be causes that necessitate long-term changes. As a result, it’s critical to be adaptable and flexible in order to preserve business continuity.
Employees working from home is a novel notion for certain businesses. It’s standard operating practice for others. But even for the latter, the COVID-19 pandemic’s interruptions and problems have generated a whole new level of hardship, because it’s no longer just a few people who work from home — it’s now the entire company.
For a long time, we’ve been able to transfer the complete firm to working remotely. There have been a few surprises, despite the systems and best practices we’ve put in place over the years to defend against any negative impact on our business or our clients.
