What did your remote readiness survey tell you?

The word survey

 

A few weeks ago we worked with a client to create a remote readiness survey. Their face to face business model had been turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic but they had a plan for a different, online way of delivering their work. Before they started sharing their online plans with the organisation they decided to survey everyone to find out about their technology and work set-up at home, the types of digital tools they already used, their confidence in using new technologies, their appetite for doing things differently and any questions or challenges they might have about creating and delivering work online.

There are a few reasons why asking these questions at that point in time was a good thing.

  1. It helped socialise the idea that the organisation was exploring new ways of doing things
  2. It showed that the organisation cared about its workforce and their needs
  3. It identified people who were already confident using technology and were already exploring how to use it in their work
  4. It helped the organisation understand what help and infrastructure would be needed to deliver its work online

Once the results were in, the organisation ran some internal discussion sessions based on what colleagues had told them. And now they are starting to deliver their work in a different way.

This survey process serves as a reminder of the importance of asking colleagues about their working set up, how they work and what they need to work effectively. It also shows how organisations can create engagement through times of crisis and change. A survey alone is not enough but when followed up by action it can be a powerful way to listen and act on the needs of your employees.

I’d also add that as the pandemic lockdown continues these types of surveys should be carried out on a regular basis. How people feel and how they do the work will change and organisations need to understand those changes and adapt accordingly. This insight will help prganisations shift to the new normal.