When my New York City–based organization moved to remote work in March, most of our programming came to an abrupt halt. Training got deleted from calendars, the annual all-staff was cancelled, and conferences were rescheduled to 2021. I’m accustomed to offering in-person, interactive programs. Forcing employees to attend lengthy remote training seemed tone deaf, but cancelling everything indefinitely didn’t feel right either. Instead of forging ahead with our regularly scheduled programming, I reworked content and kept the following things in mind.

Personal constraints

For some, working from home started as a fun change of routine. We got a break from grueling commutes and could work in our pajamas. But after more than three months of being cooped up at home 24/7, the novelty is gone. Parents are juggling homeschooling and work. Cat owners are trying to keep their kitties from jumping across the laptop during video meetings. Apartment dwellers are struggling with finding space to work that’s different from where they sleep or eat. Personally, I live with trombone player, and we negotiate his noisy practice schedule every morning. Whatever the constraint, the reality is we are all working harder than ever to create some sense of normalcy during this pandemic. To be sensitive to constraints, my training programs are now shorter, offered multiple times, and entirely optional. I am also considering recording sessions and sharing links on our company intranet page, so employees can watch on their own time.

Mental health

The pandemic and recent police brutality weigh heavily on our hearts. For some, the office is a safe space, a refuge where we can support one another. It is incredibly difficult to create that space remotely. Shortly after George Floyd’s murder, we started a community call with a moment of silence. Acknowledging the pain many were feeling, even briefly, brought us closer together. It named the elephant in the room, which was a small but important gesture. For upcoming sessions, I’m using Menti’s free service to ask participants how they are practicing self-care. Responses update on a live feed that everyone can see. It is a reminder that with everything going on the in the world, we also need to find time to care for ourselves.

Zoom fatigue

Zoom fatigue is real. After nine video calls in one day, I wanted to rip my eyes out. First the obvious: Not every meeting has to be conducted via video. I encourage employees to turn off their self-view and select the speaker view function (instead of gallery view). Screen sharing content is another way to change up the tiresome Brady Bunch grid. Most video call platforms have functionality to make meetings more interactive. I like using live polls to take a temperature check of the group. For large sessions, the chat function is a quick way to get responses. For quiz questions, it is easy to see who responded with the correct answer first. I also use virtual breakout rooms, so participants have a chance to discuss hypotheticals in smalls groups. Even with the Zoom bells and whistles, fatigue is still an important consideration. Instead of half-day programs, everything is scaled back to an hour or less. An hour goes by fast. That is the point.

Connection

It is time to accept the fact that world has changed and we will never go “back to normal.” Normal is gone. Many predict that New York City offices will not fully reopen until 2021. Some companies are moving to 100 percent remote work. Whether we are working remotely, back in the office, or somewhere in between, connecting with colleagues matters. Training is an opportunity to bring people together from across the organization. In addition to teaching skills and best practices, I am building in time to check in, talk in small groups, and share ideas. Many free and inexpensive tools exist to help employees connect in different ways. Games such as Kahoot, Quiplash, and Fibbage are user-friendly and add levity to programs. I’ve also started making guest appearances at team meetings to plug upcoming training and get feedback.

Imperfection

As much as I wish everything were planned to perfection, our circumstances change every day. I frequently remind employees to embrace a generosity of spirit with one another, but we also need to be generous with ourselves. The beautifully mapped out 2020 training program fell apart three months ago. I could fight to make it happen. I could scrap the whole thing and start planning for next year. Or I could pivot and take this new reality day by day. I chose the latter option.

My new decks are shorter and not quite as polished, but they are thoughtful and acknowledge the constraints and challenges we all face. Some days the internet is slow for no apparent reason or my laptop shuts down in the middle of a meeting without warning. We are living in imperfect times. Instead of perfection, I choose to seek progress, however small it may be. The grace and patience I experience from others inspires me to find the calm in chaos.

We will get through this challenging time. We will be stronger and more resilient on the other side. I look forward to carrying lessons learned to whatever the future may bring.

What approach to training have you found helpful? Share your ideas in the Comments below.