Editor’s note: Eric Sanchez, has patented several data-related innovations and is founder of the legal tech firm GrowPath.
DURHAM – Many industries are not known for a rapid pace of change. This certainly holds true for my home turf, the legal industry. Yet this past year has upended many norms for how work gets done in all kinds of business establishments. Remember the server versus cloud debate? COVID has declared cloud as the definitive victor. Many lawyers, for example, have had to become technologists overnight, despite their best aspirations to the contrary.
Eric Sanchez
But aside from being in the cloud, how should firms optimize their workflows for remote operations? Many seem to be hoping for the best instead of preparing for contingencies. Here are some suggestions for ways companies can continue to survive and thrive amidst pandemic challenges.
Plan
It all starts here. All businesses have to be methodical and intentional in setting up their employees for success. Unfortunately, my experience in legal circles tells me that many businesses are failing to come up with a sufficiently comprehensive strategy for dealing with the massive infrastructure changes brought on by COVID.
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Do firms have the proper technology so that staff feel in complete control from their home offices? And who’s paying those home office bills? During which core hours can employees log in? How often do staff members need to check in with their managers? Have cybersecurity issues been considered? And so on. In this shifting landscape, lack of proper planning will invariably yield poor performance.
Beyond the logistics, there must be employee buy-in to business goals and objectives. Firms should lay the groundwork for new processes and expectations as soon as possible, giving staff time to adjust and ask any questions they may have.
People
With the best plan in place, it’s still going to all depend on quality people to execute the plan successfully. There will be hardships and setbacks. Perseverance is a necessary component for achieving success.
Of course, it’s not just about issuing an edict for staff to work hard. Employees aren’t robots. That’s why it’s key to maintain “culture” despite staff being dispersed and remote. Culture isn’t some touchy-feely concept, but the core of a healthy and productive work environment. Virtual happy hours, thank you cards, one-on-one meetings, and even a small bonus can help ensure employees feel invested in each other and their work. Managers should continuously create opportunities for teams to connect and celebrate victories together.
It would also be wise for firms to commission regular surveys, so as to gather intel on how their people are doing during this time. After all, employees are learning new work skills while juggling health and family concerns. Balance empathy and responsibility by seeking their input on the best way to move forward.
Profit/Productivity
Firms can likely cut back on commercial real estate costs with most staff working from home. However, managers need insight into what their staff is up to. As benefit of the doubt dissipates, it’ll be important to have tools in place to measure staff productivity in an objective way.
One of the highlights of fully-integrated case management software is that staff complete tasks in one central location. This means managers can capture a wide variety of staff productivity metrics: server traffic, reminders created, checklist items completed, mail merges, calls/texts/emails made, notes generated, and more. In this way, firms can stop wondering and start knowing exactly how productive their remote staff is being.
At first blush, staff might balk at the idea of “Big Brother” watching over them. But they know they’re working hard, and the data will reflect that. Hard numbers will make the case for continued remote work once pandemic concerns subside.
Workplaces of all types have changed dramatically over the past year. To continue flourishing, companies must optimize their remote policies and protocols. The good news: With the proper planning, people, and technology, productivity and profit can still flow freely.
About the author
Eric is Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin and Upcycle Legal. He is also the founder of legal technology company GrowPath.
