Lessons Learned From COVID-19 With Adam Sessions

Lessons Learned From COVID-19 With Adam Sessions

In our latest live stream, Earl Foote talked with Adam Sessions, CEO of 1Wire, on the many lessons to be learned about remote work during the pandemic.

Have you given any thought to the way your business will operate in a post-pandemic world?

According to 317 CFOs recently surveyed by Gartner, the business world may not change back when the pandemic is over:

• 74% of CFOs say they expect to move previously on-site employees remote post-COVID-19
• 81% of CFOs plan to exceed their contractual obligations to hourly workers and to fund that they are using remote work to offer flexible schedules and maintain operations.
• 90% of CFOs said their accounting close operations will be able to run effectively without disruptions off-site.
• 20% of CFOs said they are cutting their on-premise technology spending with 12% planning the same move.
• 13% of CFOs have already cut real estate expenses with another 9% planning cuts in the months to come.

In this recent live stream, Nexus IT Consultants’ Earl Foote and Adam Sessions discussed what can be learned about the remote work experience over the course of the pandemic, and how to improve it:

Meet Adam Sessions, CEO of 1Wire

Adam Sessions is the CEO of 1Wire, one of Utah’s first hosted VoIP providers. Over the course of 1Wire’s fifteen years in business, Adam has overseen the development of their boutique, client-focused services.

It all began with Adam recognizing a fundamental flaw in the way telecom services were administered at the time. Multiple vendors would be involved in a given project, which invariably led to finger-pointing and blame-games. Adam saw an opportunity to disrupt the industry by offering both service and utility all in one.

“The genesis came from a number of different experiences,” says Adam. “I began a quest to figure out if there was a better way to deliver both the service aspect and the utility aspect of Telecom.”

Overcoming Challenges In The Remote Workplace

According to a recent study, newly remote workers across the country are encountering a series of challenges in their daily work life:

• 19% experience loneliness
• 17% have difficulty communicating and collaborating
• 8% have trouble staying motivated

“Suddenly, when everybody’s at home, you start to experience breakdowns,” says Earl.

Has your staff adapted to remote work? It’s understandable if they haven’t. It doesn’t come naturally to everyone.

This new era of remote working has led to the types of issues that managers would have addressed directly in the workplace. It’s not so easy now that you’re cut off from your team members.

“I always feel like there’s more I can do to get the group to come together,” says Adam. “It’s about  embracing the tools we have at our disposal and making sure that you’re over-communicating.”

Tips For Promoting An Engaged Remote Workforce

• Equip Them With The Right Tools: As Adam notes in the livestream, the more effective your communication tools are, the more effective your communication will be. His company’s communication solutions make it easy for users to stay in touch on any device, and in any way they prefer (video, voice, or text).
• Make Sure They Can See One Another: In the office, everyone would see each other just by being there. In a remote setting, email and phone calls don’t provide the same level of connection. Make sure to hold video meetings with staff, clients, and other contacts when possible.
• Promote Balance In Their Workday: Make sure that your staff is striking the right balance at home. Just as they shouldn’t be slacking off because they’re not being supervised, they also shouldn’t overwork themselves. Make sure everyone is taking breaks to decompress, stretch, stay hydrated, and relax.
• Make Sure Everyone Knows The Plan: Communication protocols are especially important right now. Without being told to do so, some staff members will update you multiple times a day. Others will follow a “no news is good news” mindset. Make sure to dictate a policy for how and when communication is to take place every day.
• Get Them Collaborating With One Another: Getting your staff to work in groups on projects won’t just promote a productive workplace — it will help you develop a healthier one too. As mentioned before, your team will benefit from any opportunities they have to connect with one another.
• Make Sure They Socialize: Switching from a full office to their quiet house can be difficult for workers — don’t forget to schedule time for business and casual communication. Your employees should still communicate on a regular basis with one another and with you.

For the full talk with Adam, make sure to check out the full Livestream recording. To continue learning more about entrepreneurship, leadership and technology topics, check out Nexus IT’s Video Center for the latest informative videos with Earl Foote.