Page 38 - ICE Today May - June 2020

The biggest identified asking clarification questions
challenge for NewsCredders when you are uncertain of a
in this situation is managing statement that was made.
children, doing household
chores while being While being optimistic is
accountable for delivering one of the crucial factors in
work. This isn’t a challenge current circumstances, it is
that we can overcome because also very important to
these factors won’t disappear. manage one’s expectations
We are encouraging even for the uncertainty up
more work flexibility to ahead. What is your
ensure our employees are able comment on that? DOWNLOAD
to manage their household Be as transparent as you can
and work responsibilities. with your teammates.
Our CEO, Shafqat Islam, has Everyone comprehends the
been clear from day one that gravity of the situation that
no one should feel guilty if we are in; however, it is still
they cannot take a work call our responsibility as part of
because it clashes with putting the leadership team to inform
their child to bed or taking them of decisions that a
care of their elderly parents. company may have to take if
We know our teammates will things take a turn for the day work done
make up for it when they are worse. Keep everyone Adobe Sign for authorizing
able. updated on the health of your and signing documents
business through continuous These apps have proven to be
How have you been and open communication. reliable while working
keeping your employees remotely.
motivated in this difficult What is your mantra on
period? remaining productive while Professionally, would you
We’re leveraging our managers being quarantined? consider this period as a
and Human Resources team. This too shall pass. learning experience that
This core group of people are will help you to broaden
tasked with checking in with Numerous entities are your horizon in future?
employees as frequently as introducing restructured As a result of this pandemic,
possible or as needed. Along salaries or pay-cuts to I HOPE WE EMERGE what I see is a future where
with daily team meetings, remain sustainable during OUT OF THIS WITH more and more organizations
we’ve launched global virtual the crisis. How should an HUMILITY AND launch global teams and allow
events such as Trivia Night employee look at it? COMPASSION FOR people to work remotely. This
and Bring Your Kids to Work An unfortunate but known ONE ANOTHER AND experience is equipping me,
in an effort to stay connected inevitable reality for many MOTHER NATURE. and others, to efficiently and
to each other. employees. Pay-cuts and IN THE MEANTIME, effectively support the growth
restructured salaries, CONTINUE of working remotely as a
How do you Interpret tone understandably, will financially PRACTISING SOCIAL viable option for businesses.
and voice as proxies for hurt many families. Employers DISTANCING AND
face-to-face feedback? should create a fund for those TAKE CARE OF Any Closing statement?
Processing non-verbal cues who may be drastically YOURSELVES AND Never in known human
like facial expressions, tone affected and unable to afford YOUR LOVED ONES. history have we all been in a
and pitch of voice and body the basic necessities. However, situation where we are
language become much harder a reduction in salary still house-bound with an ongoing
through online means that we have income global economic recession, the
communication. These and for that, we should be effects of which we will feel
activities, which usually come grateful. for years to come. I hope we
to us naturally during face to emerge out of this with
face interaction, are suddenly What tools (software) have humility and compassion for
activities that require a lot of been proven essential to one another and mother
energy and attention. The work remotely? nature. In the meantime,
best method to ensure you are Zoom for video conferencing continue practising social
not misinterpreting someone’s JIRA for software distancing and take care of
tone is to turn on your video development yourselves and your loved
during every single call and Google suite for getting day to ones.
32 ICE TODAY MAY-JUNE 2020