Top Four “COVID Keepers” My Team Identified While Working During the Pandemic

One year after closing our Manhattan office space for the safety and wellbeing of our in-person teammates, the Bob Woodruff Foundation team has been chatting about the highs and lows of shifting to a fully remote working environment. I was pleasantly surprised to hear about the silver linings that could actually be long-term improvements for our organization going forward. That’s not to say that there aren’t challenges (there are plenty), but I want to share some of the benefits of a virtual environment that powered our team and our mission through 2020. These “COVID Keepers” are worth considering long after the pandemic ends.

1. Growing real connections in a virtual space

While it’s easy to assume an all-remote structure would lead to less interaction, we found the opposite to be true. The Bob Woodruff Foundation has team members located across the country, so video conferencing was already familiar territory for us. However, people who were working exclusively online weren’t able to build connections as quickly as folks in the office who had the benefit of being in the same physical space. Now, with everyone operating remotely, several members of the team feel like “the playing field has been leveled.” We might be phoning in from different states, but social distancing has actually brought us closer together.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know coworkers who work remotely from other states. I wouldn’t normally connect with them as often as I am now, and I probably wouldn’t be video chatting at all.”

2. Commuters through computers

With our HQ located in midtown Manhattan, commuting is a big part of our in-office team routine. In NYC this can translate to crowded subways, weather delays, and added time to the workday. Now, that long commute has been replaced by a short trip to the computer. Our team is happy about the extra sleep, improved work/life balance, and the ability to take care of things on their personal to-do lists, like popping in a load of laundry or walking the dog, during the workday. Having full-time access to a home kitchen also means healthier and more affordable meal choices – better than packing up portable snacks or ordering out in Manhattan. Being able to share more dinners with family was also a popular benefit.

“The saved commute time has been nice for me –it adds about an hour and a half to two hours back to my day. It's most notable when I'm transitioning from the BWF workday to another external meeting. Usually, that would mean hopping on the train while scarfing down a granola bar, but now I can cook a real dinner and even go for a walk before logging back onto Zoom.”

3. Keeping eyes on the prize

Quite a few members of our team said that they found working from home to be less distracting and easier to maintain focus versus spending a day in the office. Tuning out the interference can be easier without a full schedule of in-person meetings and deskside drop-ins. Not to say that all our water cooler talk has been eliminated – we still like to catch up, but Slack has given us a tool to manage that time better. Now, my team can be more selective, deciding when to be social and when they need to be pop on an away message to meet a deadline. This is a far trickier tightrope to walk in the office.

“I find that my focus and on-task work during remote work is greatly increased. Although I miss having people in the office, I find that much of my day during in-person office work is taken up by subjects and conversations that have nothing to do with the task at hand. Working remotely allows me to pick and choose when I can just "talk" with my teammates and when I/we need to focus.”

4. There’s no place like home

 Many folks shared that they love being able to work where they are most comfortable. From having free rein to prepare and eat meals on their own schedule (no more eye-rolls when microwaving fish) or opting for work-appropriate loungewear instead of slacks, it’s hard to argue against the comforts of home. That relaxed environment has allowed us to see a whole new side of our coworkers, complete with children, partners, and furry friends, which has helped us grow closer than ever before.

“I like seeing everyone's home life a little bit more. From kids playing in the background to pets wandering in, I feel like I know them on a new level.”

?

We all know this year has been difficult, and the challenges of this new working world are very real. My team also shared how much they miss seeing each other outside of the confines of our computer screens. We do look forward to a brighter future. Today, I’m proud of all that we have accomplished, and I’m grateful that we’ve been able to find bright spots in a dark time. Our annual Stand Up for Heroes event is a great symbol of the lessons we learned over the past year. A tried-and-true team favorite, the best part for all of us is meeting and shaking hands with the veterans and military families we work hard to support year-round. Our virtual event was a totally unique and special experience (watch it now!) but I know we’re all looking forward to getting together in person again.