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Four essential tips for supervising students remotely while keeping connected.
“If you want your teams to be engaged in their work, you have to make their work engaging. The most powerful way to do this is to give people the opportunity to experiment and solve problems that really matter.”
Learn more on how to motivate a team through challenging times »
Managing an effective online meeting or a conference call is an art - not a science. While how-to articles abound, here’s one from the Harvard Business Review with several of our favourite tips »
Creating a safe and welcoming space where new remote employees feel comfortable can be a challenge. If you’re in need of some onboarding advice, here’s a piece filled with tips to assist you with your next remote hire »
Without the daily interactions at the workplace: the lunch breaks, the quick check-ins, the hellos and the bye-byes, here’s how you can continue to foster that connectivity: (via Think With Google) »
There’s a large difference between “orientation” and “onboarding.” Onboarding is an ongoing process that requires consistent practices to promote a long-term, healthy workplace environment. Here is a link to some crucial pillars towards implementing onboarding practices remotely » Included is a free “Virtual Onboarding Guide,” along with additional resources for Non-Profit and Charitable Sectors.
Becca Van Nederynen, head of People Operations at Help Scout, found that a lot of new remote employees felt a sense of impostor syndrome ». They felt isolated and didn't know where to turn for feedback, questions, or checking in. Van Nederynen talks about how remote work faces the challenge of replacing the casual smiles and unconscious sense of belonging that exists in a physical office.
To combat this loneliness, OutreachPete » adds all new employees to a Slack channel where they provide new hire instructional materials, then encourage collaboration amongst new hires to complete the tasks.
Assign either a mentor or a peer "orientation buddy" who they can go to with any questions and grow and learn together. In fact, buddy programs boost new hire proficiency ».
Add a personal touch: consider sending them a “care package” to welcome them aboard.
Pandemics can affect those most vulnerable in disproportionate and particular ways. We bring your attention to the impact of COVID-19 on diverse populations including Indigenous communities, members of lower socio-economic groups, those who are historically, systemically, and persistently marginalized, and those who are otherwise vulnerable.
Here's a few ways that you can help to mitigate it:
Resources:
Professor Steve Joordans has created a course on managing mental health during COVID-19 to help people understand and process anxiety and the effects of isolation. It’s filled with mental health tips, ideas for distraction, and ways to stay productive while feeling accomplished during this time. You can access it here »
UTSC Athletics and Recreation – How to Stay Active at Home:
#UTRAIN: You can’t sit still with #UTRAIN – offered both on instagram and zoom. Sports don’t stop at UofT. Here’s a link to show you how to combine your passions for gaming and intramurals with esports all summer long »
Maximize productivity and optimize working remotely for you and your team. Here's a set of online courses that’ll take less than 15 minutes to go through ». and leave you with the skills to effectively work remotely.
U of T researchers mobilize resources to produce equipment for health-care workers »
U of T researchers are launching “a project to co-ordinate and deploy equipment from across the University of Toronto to produce medical supplies like masks, face shields and ventilators for health-care workers on the front lines of COVID-19.” They’re using U of T resources like 3D printers and other tools to create equipment that meets health and safety standards that will be given to health-care facilities.
5 Tips for working from home »
U of T researchers launch ICU training resource: “an educational website for non-intensive care clinicians who may have to work in critical care units during the COVID-19 pandemic.”