Collaborating with and training a socially distanced law firm can seem like an impossible hurdle to overcome. Even firms that have had remote employees for years are finding the requirements of social distancing challenging. However, with the right tools and mindset, your firm can thrive while working apart.
One of the easiest ways to bring your firm together is to start using webcams - either the ones built into your laptops or external webcams that plug into a USB port. Instead of a traditional conference call, get on a web meeting platform that supports webcams (check out Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and GoToWebinar). Turning on webcams during internal meetings helps everyone stay focused and read facial expressions - sometimes a facial expression is worth 1,000 words.
Providing remote training can work just as well, and sometimes better, than in-person training. When people join training from their own computer, they are able to follow along if they have a second monitor. Offer training on-demand and written documentation for those who would rather read than watch.
Consider what new topics to introduce into your training curriculum - such as communication and distraction management to help your people focus during these hectic times. Security training should also top the list to ensure that your data remains protected regardless of where people are working.
Does most of your collaboration center around document drafting? If so, your traditional network drive may not work so well for socially distanced employees. A cloud-based document management system (such as NetDocuments) or a cloud-based document sync utility (consider OneDrive or Dropbox) can make collaborating on a documents a breeze.
Collaboration and training with your socially distant firm may offer some unique challenges, but just a few simple adaptations can make a huge difference. Want some help getting started? Just ask! We'll be happy to share more ideas. Contact us any time at 877-676-5492, or request a consultation.