Lockdown introduced new challenges to all of us. Spending more time with our family, or adjusting to a new life alone in our apartment inevitably caused many to toss the old habits for new growth. The restrictions that banned us from seeing familiar faces were standard practice all over the world, impacting our overall mental health. Our regular working lives were also swept away by the wind of change. Many people lost their jobs, and the ones that were lucky enough to keep it were bombarded with new rules and standards.

After over a decade of presence in the field, we experienced firsthand how the pandemic hit the recruitment industry and job seekers in general. We got countless applications through our website, and even though the hiring processes were in shock for a while, it didn’t last long. We were able to close one of the best years in our history, with many successful placements and happy clients. We worked really hard on those results, but there were new challenges we had to overcome as a team, as an agency. The following 5 lessons were the core of us being able to function just as well as we did before, and we hope they provide you with a guideline if you feel a little bit lost.

1. Employee satisfaction is the key to a motivated and well-performing team

The first new rule we laid down was that we will keep every employee of ours, doing anything in our power to keep their salaries and level of happiness. In the huge uncertainty that surrounded everyone at the time, the only commitment we settled for was the responsibility for our people. This way, we could avoid panicking employees with loads of distrust, and everyone’s role remained stable within the company. We had to switch to a home office setting quite early for our safety, but we allowed equipment to be taken away from the office and cared for a comfortable environment for all of our people. With trust and resilience, the flow of business quickly became calm and smooth again. Thanks to this method, getting back to normal didn’t take up any additional resources, as we didn’t have to search for a new workforce quickly.

We encourage all of our partners to put their people first, at all times. A team you can trust is your most valuable asset at a company, and management should try anything in their power to keep them, even when an unexpected situation hits. Employees who feel like they are valued are much more likely to do their best to perform outstandingly out of loyalty, which needs a lot of time to develop in a new workforce. As for costs, you might be able to successfully cut expenditures in the short term, but sooner or later you will have to hire new people to keep your revenue at the same level. It might look like a simple job, but dedicated and well-performing professionals are really hard to find. It might even take multiple months to fill a single position, and your business will most likely go downhill in that period.

2. Team cohesion keeps the morale high

To try to make up for the conversations that came naturally in the office, we now have several tools and meeting types we use daily. Discord serves as the main platform of communication within the team, we have a separate server and lots of separate channels for different topics that come up the most. We also keep a separate channel for every client we work with so that all of our colleagues who work on the project can stay up to date without messaging each other constantly. We also had to rethink our regular team-building sessions, as in-person meetings were no longer allowed in Hungary. We paid special attention to online games and challenges and tried to make them as enjoyable as they could be.

Even though using multiple platforms worked out for us, you definitely don’t need them to keep the team together. Organized, free team building activities work just as well, you just have to find something that people enjoy. You can do trivia nights, storytelling contests, or even just virtual get-togethers. The key is to put in the time and effort so that people can connect with each other, and the working environment will also thank you for it.

3. Hybrid office

Aside from video calls and occasional outdoor activities, we plan on seeing each other in the office again soon, but in no ways will it be the same as before. The remote lifestyle has worked out amazingly for the majority of our team members. Colleagues with families and those who live further away from the city center of Budapest profit the most from the changes: they spare hours on a daily basis by evading commuting, and they can now spend it focusing on anything they rather like. Still, for those team members who prefer working from an office, we kept our space open for them to use upon convenience. As we always tried to provide the most flexible solutions for everyone, we plan on keeping this setting- everyone will be able to choose where to work from, and the opportunity to meet in our office will also always be open.

We always advise our clients to keep the “where to work” question open. People have different preferences, and you simply can’t expect everyone to be comfortable in an office setting daily. People tend to perform their best when they feel trusted and valued, and in an environment that suits their needs. Managers can show their respect by not obliging all their people to commute daily, and letting them decide where they feel the best. This also widens the talent pool available to them because many job-seekers exclusively look for remote or hybrid opportunities. Try focusing on developing a system that is tailored to accommodate the needs of the individuals by helping them achieve the company’s goals faster and more efficiently.

+1 Transparency

Our Nr. 1 rule is that questions are always welcome. Team members are able to turn to the management anytime they are unsure of something, or even when they simply want to get something off their chests. Different opinions are treated with respect, and there’s a high effort from leaders to make everyone feel good at IseeQ. We actually practice what we preach, and keep our whole company updated about the good majority of events, and everything that directly concerns them. Quarterly meetings have been a practice since Covid19 hit, and for a short period of time, we even switched to a monthly setting. We still attend those presentations, and make sure that nothing stays hidden, so the team can work together for the same goals the management sets.

As a recruitment agency, we experienced that job seekers tend to look for employers that are highly transparent about their mission and processes. Working for common goals facilitates team spirit and motivation on an individual level as well. It also builds trust and shows your business is run with high ethical standards and integrity. Valued and enthusiastic employees always do their best, so it’s in every business owner’s favor to keep the spirits of the management aligned with its workers.

This list could go on forever. Lockdown turned out to be a good teacher for us, and all of the things we learned are still practiced today. If you struggle to find value in these stressful times, we collected the key thoughts in a list below that helped us embrace the drawbacks and continue our journey towards our goals:

1. Value your employees, and make them feel that their work is appreciated
2. Put in the extra work, your company culture is worth the hassle
3. Provide multiple opportunities for people to perform their best
4. Care for the comfort of the team
5. Be transparent about your business, set clear expectations and goals

We hope that our example inspires you to do what’s best for your company, and we wish you a lot of success and luck in the future.