How to Make the Most of a “Snow Day”

With the Right Technology in Place, Snow Days Can Be Productive Days

The local weather report said “blizzard by week’s end.” As the week progressed, folks were even calling this the “Storm of the Century,” and “Snowmagedeon.” After much consideration, I sent a company-wide e-mail Thursday night, informing them that Friday would be a snow day. You see, a “snow day” for us means that all phones are forwarded, all systems are available via online desktops, and it is business as usual. Our teams can collaborate via Instant Messenger, and we can share files and computer screens using tools like Skype and GoToMeeting, etc. Short of meeting with clients face-to-face, we are still able to conduct face-to-face meetings via webcams and GoToMeeting. I even conducted my first Skype to Skype video interview for a potential Project Manager. I am happy to report she has been hired.

Now, what does it take to create a successful “snow day?” Well, besides 27 inches of snow, you must examine all areas of the operation to determine what job functions simply can’t be done without being present in the office. Additionally, consider what functions can’t be done without utility services to your office. You may ask, “Why start from what can’t be done?” Well, most folks take care of the obvious elements, but forget things like phone forwarding, remote access, client notifications, and alternative methods for simply getting business done.

This snow day has caused us to review our current plan for what we call “work from home,” and determine what worked and what didn’t. I highly recommend, while it is still fresh in everyone’s mind, to have a meeting with key personnel to discuss the impact of the storm on both the business and your employees. Did your employees feel connected? Connected with a purpose? Did they feel out of touch? Or, did they fall right in line?

An idea that resulted from our recent snow day was the ability to train our professional staff online, while working from home. Think about it. Everyone who is in production, accounting, or finance, needs to refine or update their skills every so often. What better time to do this then on a snow day. Another idea was the thought of creating a list of items to do on a snow day. This is a list compiled of things that would be ideal to finish, but are not necessarily high priority. For example, we are currently testing an Online Forms Tool. I spent last Friday working with the service provider in California to set this up. This is something that probably wouldn’t have gotten done without a snow day.

So I ask, how productive was your company’s snow day?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Rick Crane, President & CEO, GoBeyond IT