It is safe to say that no one was prepared for what happened in the first quarter of 2020. The coronavirus put the status of the global health and economy in flux. 

Socially distant remote work went from a stopgap to a way of life for many of us. You and your team likely have found your rhythm by now, so it’s time to focus on not just maintaining, but thriving in this environment. 

“It’s more important than ever to design, communicate, and adhere to the tools, processes, and practices that support productivity on the functional, mental, and emotional levels,” Andrew Thomas says in Inc. 

Thomas suggests three ways to maximize your team’s productivity. 

Find the right tools 

“Software provides ample tools to support sustainable productivity, individually and with teams,” Thomas explains. “When you consider a remote workforce, these tools become even more important.” 

There are many virtual meeting platforms and chat services for your team to consider, and it is important to find one that suits your team’s needs and culture. 

Once you find the right tools, you can think outside the box of how you can use them to increase productivity for your team. For example, that video meeting service you are using for department meetings may also be able to host a meditation session during a particularly stressful time. 

Review existing processes 

The same processes you have in an in-person environment may not work now that most of your team is remote. You may need to set up a short check-in every morning to take the place of that “by the coffee pot” conversation you were having in the office. 

“It’s also necessary to review your processes to examine if they are still relevant and effective,” Thomas says. “After all, a tool won’t help you if the outcomes won’t help you.”  

He adds: “Don’t forget to consider how your vendors or suppliers impact your processes and pay special attention to any inputs that might be hard to acquire during work stoppages.” 

Meet emotional needs 

Of course, it’s important for your team members to stay productive during this time, but don’t forget to recognize how the uncertainty of all of this is affecting them emotionally.  

Thomas suggests ways to address the emotional needs of your team, including starting meetings with a personal check-in, leading from a place of truth and vulnerability, focusing on your organization’s mission, and giving everyone space to be human.  

“These moments require that we adjust everything in our lives, especially our processes and expectations,” Thomas says. “Consider each area on this list and see how they can help you implement new, or change existing, paths to productivity."