The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities in the way we work, travel, and live our lives. Companies across the world have been unable to achieve their targets as production facilities remain shut. It is abundantly clear that the crisis will impact how companies operate.

Companies that can adapt rapidly to changes will be able to increase and withhold their foothold in the economy.

The workforce is a critical component of any organization and proper management of employees in times of crisis can prove to be a deciding factor in how the company adapts. In this article, we will identify some of the most important tips that can help managers improve employee management.

• Prioritization & Communication

  This is an integral component of employee management during times of crisis. Millions of people across the world have been unemployed because of COVID-19 and there is increasing uncertainty among the global workforce about the future. This can be a leading cause of stress for your team.

  The most effective way to handle this is to communicate your priorities. Communicate to your team that their health and wellbeing is of utmost importance. Similarly, make sure that you reassure your employees that their sources of livelihood are not under threat.

  Communication takes on a whole new meaning because of the lockdown and remote working. Social distancing, financial uncertainty, and health risks can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. Devise a new set of rules that acknowledges this reality and make sure your employees are on-board with this.

  Communication is a two-way street and a better set of guidelines and policies can be devised if your team can raise their concerns. It is vital not to underestimate the importance of communication, especially during the lockdown.

  Utilize tools such as video conferencing, remote management programs, or employee monitoring apps to improve communication. This can help to boost your team’s productivity and ensure that your organization can strongly bounce back from this crisis.

• Engagement & Motivation

  Practicing engagement and motivation building for employees at the workplace is a special skill that develops with experience. However, the COVID-19 has turned the working culture on its head and is testing the adaptability of managers. That being said, there are a couple of important things to keep in mind if you wish to maintain or improve your team’s motivation.

  For example, the set of policies and regulations governing employee behavior requires reassessment. It is natural to assume that your employees will have other household tasks to do, kids to look after and manage other problems because of the crisis. The working guidelines you devise should ideally reflect that. In short, flexibility is important for improving employee motivation.

  Better employee engagement can also resolve another problem. Remote working and uncertainty regarding return to normalcy can potentially push everyone to delay considering big-picture issues.

  Understandably, many of your team members would like to wait for the crisis to end before they aim for your company’s long-term strategic goals. However, this waiting period can harm your company. Engage your employees and improve their motivation through group activities and relaxed rules.

  Encourage them to acknowledge that this new working pattern may be a permanent part of our lives.

( Also Read: 61 Innovative Employee Engagement Ideas )

• Transparency & Monitoring

  Transparency and trust assume high importance in the absence of physical presence. While you may be able to see and personally engage your employees at the office, doing so during a crisis like COVID-19 is difficult. An important strategy to improve transparency is to open the decision-making process.

  Give your team members the space to make decisions on their own. You are demonstrating your trust in the capabilities and dedication when you allow them to do so.

  Employees need to retain their sense of belonging to the company and opening the decision making process can help towards that. Additionally, communicate with your employees and devise a process through which their progress can be monitored. Managers are scrambling to select a suitable employee monitoring program.

  However, many are forgetting that monitoring is also a two-way process. Your team should ideally have a say in how they are monitoring, and when. You may also feel uncertain about which program is suitable for your needs. Do not worry though; we have got you covered in this department.

  Bear in mind that it is best to install employee monitoring apps on company-owned devices to avoid privacy-related problems.

• XNSPY Employee Monitoring Program

  XNSPY is a sophisticated employee monitoring app that has been used by employers across the world for many years. The service has developed a solid reputation for its flexibility. With the XNSPY employee monitoring app, managers can engage their team and jointly choose exactly what kind of information is collected, and when.

  The app is compatible with a wide range of Android and iOS devices. XNSPY is also far more affordable as compared to other employee monitoring apps, so scaling up should not be a problem. It offers advanced features as well.

  For example, you can use the app to monitor all calls made to and from the phone. You can also record the calls if your team is involved in customer support. Similarly, the app can monitor all text messages, even those exchanged via instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, and others.

  This way, you can obtain a comprehensive picture of communication within the organization. In other words, it can help to build a virtual office. XNSPY employee monitoring app also features a GPS tracking function that monitors the phone’s location in real-time. This function is suitable for teams involved in the service delivery of transport.

  You can use the online activity tracker to monitor web-based activities such as all emails and web browsing history. This can help you measure the productivity of each team member. Additionally, you can remotely control the phone to view/block apps, lock the device, or delete all data.

  A unique function available with the app is called XNSPY watch list alerts. You can add any word, or a location to the app’s watch list and XNSPY will immediately notify you of all related activities. It’s a useful function for larger teams.